Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 98

Author: La Salle Book Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : La Salle Book Co.
Number of Pages: 910

USA > Illinois > Cook County > Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899 > Part 98

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ADOLPH VAN CLEEF.

A DOLPH VAN CLEEF, who is city sales- man for Simon Hasterlik, is one of the most worthy and esteemed citizens of Chicago. He was born April 19, 1848, on Lepel Street, in the city of Antwerp, Belgium. His parents were Noah and Bloom (Vander Heim ) Van Cleef. His paternal grandfather was the father of eight children and his maternal grandfather, Abraham Vander Heim, was the father of the following children: Solomon, Levi, Eleaser, Aaron, Herman, David, Bloom, Lottie and Rosette. Mr. Vander Heim was descended from a long line of jewelers, being of that profession himself, and was born in Amsterdam.

Noah Van Cleef, who was a diamond cutter, was born in 1815, and died in 1849. His wife survived him until 1858, dying at the age of forty-seven years. Her children were: Charles, Felix (who died in Paris at the age of twenty- one years) and Adolph.

Charles Van Cleef was the first of his father's family to emigrate from his native land, and he reached New York April 2, 1865. He traveled straight through to Chicago, and has resided here ever since. Adolph Van Cleef sailed from Liverpool September 21, 1865, and reached Chi- cago October 10 of the same year. He had learned the art of lens making in his native land, but abandoned it on coming to America.

He obtained employment in the dry-goods house of Schoenfeldt Brothers, located at the

corner of Kinzie and Clark Streets. After one year he took charge of the place of Lannert Salle, at No. 100 Madison Street, being thus occupied two years; for four years subsequently he managed the extensive billiard hall of Brunswick Brothers on Washington Street. He was subsequently manager of a similar place on Randolph Street, and then had charge of the dancing hall owned by Henry Klare three years. He had complete charge of the billiard hall of the Tremont Honse six months, managed the business of L. Treulich, at "The Tivoli," on State Street, three years and then opened an establishment of his own on Canalport Avenue. He subsequently had charge of the Peerless Club House one year and then conducted a catering establishment at the corner of Johnson and Twelfth Streets two years. He was located in the same business at No. 55 Blue Island Avenue for five years and one year at No. 179 Blue Island Anenue. He has for two years been city salesman for Simon Hasterlik, a whole- sale dealer, being a trusted and valued employe.

February 21, 1876, Mr. Van Cleef was married to Miss Maria, daughter of Abraham and Eva (Seidel) Pollak. Mrs. Van Cleef was born in Bohemia, June 26, 1850, emigrating from her native land in 1875. Her children are five in number. Noah was born December 13, 1876, and is bookkeeper for Winkler & Klein, at Nos. 200-202 Madison Street. Maxine, born De- cember 15, 1878, is shipping-clerk for the Tro-

682

WILLIAM WILSON.

jan Shirt & Collar Company, located at Nos. 193- 195 Adams Street. Felix, born February 28, 1881, is advertising manager for Marshall Field & Company's wholesale store. Paul, born July 27, 1883, is attending his second year at high school. Eugene, born January 17, 1887, is in the seventh grade of the grammar school. Emil, born October 7, 1888, died June 30, 1895.

Mr. Van Cleef is connected with Court Concord No. 59, Independent Order of Foresters, of which he is Past Chief Ranger. He is not devoted to any special party in political matters, but is in- dependent in his views, voting for the man rather than for the party. He is a follower of the re- ligion of the Israelites, being withal, a very worthy and estimable man.

WILLIAM WILSON.

ILLIAM WILSON is among the most successful and prominent of contract- ing stone-cutters in Chicago. He comes of a very old Scotch family and is as sturdy and hearty at all times as the typical Scotch High- lander is famed to be. He was born September 3, 1843, in Greenock, Scotland, and his parents were Alexander and Margaret (Anderson)

Wilson. His paternal grandfather was John Wilson and was for thirty years a stone-cutter, being in the employ of one concern all this time. He was the father of three daughters, one of whom was Margaret, and Alexander was the only son. The family is known to have been one consisting of stone-cutters.

The maternal grandfather of William Wilson was John Anderson and his one son, William, located in Australia, while one of his daughters, Ann, never emigrated from her native land. Alexander Wilson, the father of the man whose name heads this article, immigrated to America in 1848 and located in New York. He remained there two years before sending for his family. He was a stone cutter and was employed by John Wright and the firm of Morgan & Anderson, the former being in New York and the latter in Brooklyn. He was foreman for these concerns. In 1864 he came to Chicago and for three years was foreman for Howison, Atkinson & Barnsfowl,

after which time he established a business on his own account with John Gibson as partner. They located at the corner of Jackson and Franklin Streets and conducted a profitable and successful trade from 1866 to 1869. Mr. Wilson subse- quently accepted a position as foreman again, re- maining occupied in that capacity until 1872. He then joined with John Newcomb and the firm name became Wilson & Newcomb. After two years he secured the position of foreman on the government postoffice and received a percentage. He was employed by the contractor John Miller. Mr. Wilson then retired until the opening of the shops of the Pullman Palace Car Company and was employed by this company as foreman of the stone-cutters under Superintendent R. E. Moss, occupying the position two years. This was the last actual work that Mr. Wilson ever did whichi could be called manual labor. He later con- tracted for the building of Grace Episcopal Church and the stone cutting on the Grand Pacific Hotel, under the supervision of Patrick Fanning. Mr. Wilson died November 15, 1895, and his remains were interred in Oakwoods Cemetery. He was born September 11, 1809, in Glasgow, Scotland, and was a Master Mason at the time of his death. He was connected with the Presbyterian Church and was a Republican in politics.

Mrs. Alexander Wilson was born in Greenock,

683

WILLIAM PFAU.

Scotland, and died August 3, 1863, at the age of fifty-four years. Her children were named as follows: James, John, Elizabeth, Alexander, William, Margaret, Annie and two others of whom record is not obtainable. Alexander served in the Civil War, in the Sixth Alabama Regiment, and was killed in the service. Margaret was married to Robert Sime and lived in Chicago. She was the mother of seven children. After the death of Mrs. Sime, Mr. Sime married her sister, Annie.

William Wilson, the man whose name heads this article, attended school until he reached the age of eleven years. He subsequently went to night school at every opportunity and began life for himself by becoming employed in the rope works of Mr. Ramsey, in Greenock, Scotland. He was next in Albany, New York, where he re- mained one year, at the end of which time he entered the employ of John C. Feltman, manufac- turer of mail bags. He then became interested with Hugh Young, in stone-cutting in New York. Mr. Young has now one of the largest yards in Chicago. Nine months later Mr. Wilson began work in the interest of Grant & Short, in East New York. He remained thus occupied two years, at which time he had finished learning the trade and began journeyman work at the same. July 29, 1864, he reached Chicago and

continued with John Howison three years. Dur- ing this time he was sent to Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, to assist in the erection of the passenger station of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which occupied him three months. His work was subsequently with his father, being with him practically all the time the latter was engaged in the trade of stone-cutter. For eighteen years Mr. Wilson was at different times in the employ of the Pullman Palace Car Company. Two years he was contracting with Alexander Mc Laughlan. He is a man of much ambition and his work has been principally in Pullman. He erected a res- idence at No. 7327 Langley Avenue, in 1873, and has since been located at this number.

Mr. Wilson was married March 25, 1881, to Miss Lena Singen. She was born in Germany and had 110 children. Mr. Wilson was married the second time to Rose Minman, September 24, 1892. Mrs. Wilson is a daughter of John and Lena (Schultz) Minman. Mrs. Wilson was born March 13, 1856, in the village of Popenhagen, near Berlin, Germany. She came to America when she was twelve years of age. Her children are Bertha Eliza and Alexander.

Mr. Wilson was made a Master Mason in Ken- sington Lodge No. 804, in 1892. He is not active in politics, but casts his vote in favor of the Republican candidate at all times.

WILLIAM PFAU.

ILLIAM PFAU, who is one of Chicago's most skilled blacksmithis and prominent citizens, was born March 18, 1842, in West Prussia, and is a son of John and Henriette (Seiburg) Pfau. His grandfather, Adam Pfau, was the parent of the following three children:

Gottleib, John and Henriette. His maternal grandmother, Amelia Seiburg, lived to the ad- vanced age of eighty-eight years, and her chil- dren were: Carl, Fritz, Henriette and Lena.

John Pfau, father of the man whose name heads this article, was born in September of the

684

J. F. PRETZSCH,

year 1807 and died in 1874. His wife was born in May, 1819, and died in 1884. Her children were seventeen in number, but only the three following are still in the land of the living: William, Lena and Julius. William Pfau was the first of his father's family to emigrate from his native land, and he reached New York March 28, 1881. He lived on the South Side when he first located in Chicago and was employed in a foundry, which was then on Sixteenth Street, having learned the trade of a blacksmith in his native land. He was thus occupied one year and was then given a position with the Illinois Central Railroad Company in the capacity of blacksmith, at the shops. When the shop of that company was established at Burnside, Mr. Pfau was given a

position there and has occupied the same up to the present time. He has proven at all times a faithful worker in the interests of the company, and his services are valued and recognized in a financial way accordingly.

Mr. Pfau was married February 17, 1867, to Bertha Malehorn, daughter of Henry Malehorn. Mrs. Pfau was born May 8, 1848, and her chil- dren are named as follows: August, Herman, Ada, Bruna and Anna. Three other children died young. In 1889 Mr. Pfau built a residence at No. 7356 Champlain Avenue and here his family has since been located. The members of the family represent models of peace and happiness, and all are highly regarded by their numerous acquaintances.

JOHN F. PRETZSCH.

OHN FREDERICK PRETZSCH is among the most prominent and enterprising of the citizens in the section of the city where he resides, and is one of the very old settlers in Chicago. He was born June 27, 1828, in the Province Merseburg, Prussia. His parents were John Frederick and Henrietta (Wenzel) Pretzsch, both of whom are now deceased.

The father of J. F. Pretzsch, senior, was Gottlieb Pretzsch, who was a blacksmith. He had two sons, Wilhelm and John Frederick, and some others whose names can not now be re- called. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Wilhelm Wenzel, who kept a hotel in his native land. His children were Hen- rietta and William. John Frederick Pretzsch, senior, was born May 20, 1798, and died in 1860. He was a worker in wood, and conducted a fac- tory in that line. His wife was born in Septem- ber of the year 1800, and died in 1862. Their

children were named as follows: Henrietta, Wil- helmina, John Frederick, Albert, Gustav, Julius, Morritz and Louisa (the last two named being twins), Julius, Robert and Paulina. Gustav came over in 1858, and after marrying Miss Ketz, made his home in this country. Paulina came to America in 1865. She married Charles Stoll and resides at No. 445 Twenty-ninth Street, Chicago.

John F. Pretzsch, junior, reached New York August 3, 1856, having come over in the ship "Harvest Queen." He stayed in Chicago but a short time before removing to Milwaukee, where he remained two years. In that city he conducted a meat market, and later went to Salina County, Missouri, where he resided eight months, and subsequently returned to Milwaukee. In 1860 he located in Chicago, and has since made this city his home.

He opened a meat market on Van Buren Street,

685

H. L. STORMS.

near the bridge which crosses the Chicago River, and conducted the business there one year. He removed to No. 384 Clark Street, and was lo- cated at that number fourteen years, and did a flourishing and profitable business. He purchased property on Wells Street, at Nos. 623 and 625, and after one year at that location, bought a lot at No. 921 North Halsted Street, in 1871, and has continued his establishment at that place since. He is a thriving, business-like man, and his dealings are always honorable and square.

In the months from May to October, inclusive, in the year 1873, Mr. Pretzsch visited the land of his nativity, and returned perfectly satisfied

with the result of time thus spent. Though a true son of Prussia, he is loyal to his adopted country and resolved more strongly than ever after that visit to remain in the Land of the Free and the home of prosperity. He was married November 14, 1858, to an excellent and uplifting wife, Katharine Yochem. Mrs. Pretzsch was born May 25, 1839, and since the date of her marriage to Mr. Pretzsch has endeavored to aid him in every possible manner, in a moral as well as business way. They make an admirable and congenial couple and have hosts of friends among the acquaintances which they make in various walks of life.

HENRY L. STORMS.

ENRY L. STORMS. Among the most prominent members of the great order of the Knights of the Maccabees, and an influential and ardent worker for its cause, is Henry L. Storms. He was born November 18, 1866. For further mention of his ancestors see biographical record of John L. Storms.

H. L. Storms was educated in the public school, having attended the Panl Cornell School, but left at the age of fourteen years. He was in his father's service two years and subsequently entered the employ of Brown, Pettibone & Kelly, dealers in stationery, with whom he remained eighteen months. He returned to his father's service, where he was occupied until 1886, and was then made conductor on the Chicago City Railway, running on State Street as far soutli as Thirty-ninth Street. He continued in the same service, running on State Street, six years. He then entered the oil business, in his own interest, which he abandoned after eighteen months and returned to the employ of the Chicago City Rail- way Company, running on Cottage Grove Ave-

nue two years. He was occupied two years in the milk business, at the corner of Halsted and Seven- tieth Streets, conducting a store in connection.

Mr. Storms was made a member of the Knights of the Maccabees in April, 1895, when he joined Acme Tent, which later became Normal Park No. 42. In July, 1895, he was made deputy great commander, and in July, 1897, was elected great lieutenant commander, and has given his full time to the organization of lodges thronghout the state. In September, 1895, he organized Harmony Tent No. 197. He has been record and finance keeper since the organization of the lodge. In 1897 Mr. Storms was made a Free Mason in Auburn Park Lodge No. 789. He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in January, 1896, becoming connected with Engle- wood Lodge No. 858. He is a member of Char- ter Oak Lodge No. 266, Knights of Pythias, having joined this lodge in December, 1897, and is a charter member of Chicago Council No. 117, Ancient Order of Pyramids, the lodge having been organized in December, 1897.

686

G. W. MEAD.

October 12, 1886, Mr. Storms married Miss Emma Pyne, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Edwards) Pyne. Mrs. Storms was born in London, England, her parents emigrating in 1871. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Storms are Irene

Lenore, aged nine years, and Margaret, three years old. Though not active in political affairs and never seeking public favor in the form of an office, Mr. Storms upholds the interests of the Republican party.

GEORGE W. MEAD.

EORGE WALKER MEAD was born May I, 1835, in Culpeper, Virginia, and lost his father before he was old enough to gain any knowledge of him. When he was but five years old his mother took him and his elder sister, Mary Mead, to Alton, Illinois, where they resided until 1848. The mother died in March of the following year at St. Louis, Missouri. She was married in Alton to Peter Strickland, who sur- vived her many years, and died October 14, 1884, aged sixty-five years.

The subject of this sketch was early accus- tomed to care for himself, and is wholly self-ed11- cated. After the death of his mother he went to St. Louis, and came to Chicago June 25, 1849. Here he has seen a wonderful city grow up in the midst of its own ruins. Much of his life has been spent in the employ of hotels and restaurants. With the exception of a year in Racine, Wiscon- sin, he has continued in Chicago, since 1852.

In the days of packet boats on the Illinois & Michigan canal, he spent a year as porter on the "Louisiana," which served the traveling public previous to 1853. Its place was shortly after taken by railroad accommodations. For a period of fifteen years, Mr. Mead was in the service of E. R. Kellogg, a hat dealer at No. 167 Washing- ton Street, and during this time often "turned an honest penny" by assisting Thomas Eckhart, a caterer, in serving parties at night.

In the summer of 1871, Mr. Mead opened a lunch counter on Clark Street, and was fairly launched on the way to success when the great fire of that year swept away his savings, in con1- mon with those of many another unfortunate citi- zen. He again entered the service of Mr. Eck- hart, and continued with him until his death, in 1890. Since that time he has remained with Mr. Eckliart's successors, Shaw & French.

He was married October 22, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Johnson, who is a native of Westches- ter, Pennsylvania, born May 17, 1836. Their eldest child, Georgiana, born November 21, 1857, was married June 9, 1880, to Littleton Jones, and resides at No. 5012 Fifth Avenue. Frank B., born June 13, 1859, married Florence Miller, and resides at No. 5120 Indiana Avenue. A sketch of Edwin Ripley Mead, twin brother of Frank, appears in this work .. Alonzo, born January 13, 1863, married Lou Washington, and has two children, Frank and Marion. Lucy, born May 28, 1870, became the wife of Adolphus C. Harris May 25, 1888. George W., born Sep- tember 22, 1872, resides with his parents.

Mr. Mead is a faithful adherent of the Baptist Church, and upholds in every way the political principles of the Republican party. While striv- ing to fulfill, as far as possible, his duty to his family, he ever aims to further the general wel- fare of his native land.

LIBRARY OF THE GIONITH SO Alisasania

687

P. M. LAGONI.

PETER M. LAGONI.

7 ETER MADSEN LAGONI, who has risen by his own efforts from a hardy sailor, to a prominent business man, and who, seeing the great future of the city of Chicago, was able to make her prosperity his own, has a history which is well worth recording and which should be a source of inspiration to the rising generation. He was born in Denmark April 27, 1845, and spent his early boyhood in his native land. But being possessed of that venturesome disposition that made the Northmen the greatest navigators on the globe, he became at the age of fourteen years a cabin boy on an ocean-going ship. With a full determination to succeed, he studied every phase of the sailor's life and also books on navi- gation, and in a short time became mate. He sailed to all parts of the world, where the neces- sities of trade took the ships, including various parts of India, China and the East Indies.

Having reached the age of twenty-two years and satisfied his desire to see the world, he de- cided to make his future home in America, and in 1867 crossed to New York in the packet "George Washington." Making his way to Buffa- lo he shipped as a sailor on the three-masted schooner "Van Kelderhouse" of Chicago. Dur- ing the remainder of the season he sailed on the boat "Hibbard" of Chicago and the "Black Charley" of Racine. Hearing of greater de- mands for labor in the West he went to Wyoming, where he worked on the Union Pacific Railroad, which was then being built, his work being done between Cheyenne and Green River. He soon returned to Chicago where he bought a horse and

wagon and began an express business. This he continued until 1872. The great fire was a great opportunity for men in his line of business, and he made more in one day at that time than ever in the same time before. Although many lost their most valuable papers by fire and others en- trusted them to unsafe hands, he was able to save all the money, abstracts and mortgages belonging to a wealthy real estate man, for which service he received the princely sum of one dollar.

In 1872 Mr. Lagoni entered the real estate business and by so doing no doubt discovered the branch of business for which he is best adapted. He took charge of the subdivision of Winslow, Jacobson & Tolman, and established his office at the corner of North and Western Avenues, which was also the corner of the subdivison. This property, which consisted of forty acres, was at that time wild prairie and was over one and one- half miles from any street car line. It was over half a mile to the nearest drinking water, and Mr. Lagoni found good fishing grounds on the site of his present place of business. His ac- quaintance among the business men acquired dur- ing his experience in the express business, gave him such a prestige that, on the first day his of- fice was open for business, twenty-two lots were sold, and within six months the entire forty acres had been disposed of. Most of the purchasers were Scandinavians, and Mr. Lagoni did all in his power to make them comfortable and to secure improvements. Through the influence of Alder- man Michael Ryan the waterworks were extended to reach this section, though at first there was

688

CHRISTIAN PETERSEN.

but one hydrant, at which all the people gath- ered. As it was noted as a place where the news of the day was discussed it was called the "daily news."

Since the disposition of the first subdivision, the subject of this sketch has brought about many real estate transactions, in which he has been eminently successful. For eighteen years after his location in the northwestern part of the city he was engaged in an extensive tailoring business, employing more than fifty hands at times, and after that in the wholesale liquor trade, distributing his goods all over the country.

In 1885 he built the elegant three-story build- ing at the corner of North and Western Avenues, on the first floor of which is his place of business. The second floor he occupies as a residence and on the third floor is a hall. He has a fine garden in connection, and also owns other property in the neighborhood.

In 1869 Mr. Lagoni was married to Hannah Peterson, whom he met in England, where she had resided three years. They have adopted

three children, namely: Louis, who is twenty-two years old; Olga, who died at the age of eight years; and Dagmar, who is now eleven years old. Mr. Lagoni has done all in his power for the com- fort and welfare of his family, and their home is a pleasant one. In his library he finds much of his enjoyment, and is well informed on all lead- ing questions. He also takes great pleasure in the collection of relics and curiosities, of which he has quite a number. Among them are the boots and cane of Lars Tellefsen, the largest man who ever lived in Chicago.

Socially Mr. Lagoni possesses many admirable qualities and is loved and respected by all classes. He is liberal with his money and ever has a kind word for a struggling brother. He is a member of Hesperia Lodge No. 411, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, and Washington Chapter, Roy- al Arch Masons, of the Danish Brotherhood of America, and the Independent Order of Foresters. At present he is a supporter of the Republican party, but is not a radical partisan and has many friends in both parties.

CHRISTIAN PETERSEN.

HRISTIAN PETERSEN, though he came years as an apprentice. He then worked some to America a poor young man, has, by his time as a journeyman but, being ambitious to progress more rapidly than the opportunities of his native land would allow, he resolved to emi- ·grate to America. ability and courage, won for himself a place among the honored business men of Chicago. He was born in Denmark, November 7, 1853, the younger of the two children of Marthes and He proceeded first to Hartford, Connecticut, but finding that his lack of knowledge of the English language prevented his securing work at his trade, he went out of the city a short dis- tance and engaged himself to a farmer. After two months of farm work he secured a position in a sawmill, where he continued nearly three years. He wasnow able to proceed farther west, where there were more of his fellow countrymen, Annie Petersen. He spent his first few years in his native place, but, as his parents were poor, received a very limited education in the common schools. At the early age of nine years he began working on a farm and his subsequent training was in the great school of experience. At the age of fourteen years he had decided to learn the trade of blacksmith, and spent the next four

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 98

Author: La Salle Book Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : La Salle Book Co. Number of Pages: 910

Author: La Salle Book Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : La Salle Book Co.
Number of Pages: 910