History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 118

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875

USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time > Part 118

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RELIGIOUS .- The first sermen in this place was preached at James Milne's house, in 1847, by Rev. Mr. Wheaton, a Methodist minister. The churches now in existence are three: Methodist, German Lu- theran and one belonging to the German Evangelical Association. The German Lutheran Church was started in 1859, by Jehn Hasseman, Henry Hasse- mau, Fred Schlender, Fred Segelken Fred Hen- ning, Fred Schroeder, Fred Hasse, John Hasse, Mr. Luther. Mr. Rose, Mr. Hacker, Mr. Wendt, and oth- ers. The church building was erected in 1861, on a lot denated to the society by William Lill. the brewer, of Chicago. It is a two story building, brick basement, with frame superstructure, 40x65 feet in size, and cost $2,500. A Rev. Jir. Hunning was the first preacher. He remained three or four years and was succeeded by the Rev. G. S. Loeber, who has been pastor twenty- three years. Under him the school was started. A separate school building was erected in 1872 on the

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same lot with the church. The first teacher was Fred Krieger, who remained four years; the second was August Gruhl, who remained eight years, and the third is If. Jaerneke, who has been there two years. The bnikling is a two-story frame, costing about $1,200.

The Church of the Evangelical Association origi- nally stood in Maine Township, about cighty rods west of its present location in Niles, aud until 1867 belonged to the Des Plaines circuit. The ministers' names who were with the Church immediately previous to its removal were the Rev. G. Vetter, 1864 and 1865, and Rev. A. Gockley, 1866. The church building was a small frame, which when the present editice was erected, in the summer of 1875, was sold to Phillip Rellstab to be used for a barn. It originally cost. about $400, and would seat about 250 people. The church society was started in 1850, by Christian Ebin- ger and a few other Germans, among them, Henry Bende, Frederick and John Ebinger, Frederick Blume, Frederick Selger, Jacob and John Wingert, Jacob Gar- ble, Jacob Brecher, and Frederick Mueller, and their wives. One of its first preachers was Jacob Esher, father of the present Bishop, J. J. Esher, and the Rev. George Esher, of Chicago. The preachers since the removal to its present location have been the Revs. P. J. Wingert, 1867; C. Augestein, 1868; H. Meier, 1869; G. Vetter, 1871; W. Strasburger, 1872; R. Rohrbach, 1874; C. Augestein, 1875; W. Schneiker, 1828; C. Danner, 1881 and 1882; Amos Gockley, 1883 and 1884. The new building was dedicated by Bishop J. J. Esher, and cost $3,300. The present membership of the church is 125.

The Methodist society erected their building iu 1880. It is a very neat one-story frame building, and was erected by the combined aid of the members. and with the expenditure of very little money. John Ketchum did most of the carpenter work. The build- ing will seat about 400 people. The pulpit has usually been supplied by students from Evanston, and occasion- ally by the Methodist minister from Park Ridge. A Sun- day-school is in connection with the church, having about seventy five scholars, and five teachers. Mrs. M. Ketchuin is the superintendent.

The village of Niles now contains two stures, two hotels, one drug store, one haruess shop, two black- smith shops, three churches, two schools, one physi- cian and about 200 inhabitants.

BENJAMIN LUPTON was born In England April 7, 1817. His father's name was Christopher, and his mother's Ellen (Parker) Lupton. Benjamin Lupton Immigrated to America in 1831. He commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade with Mathias Mason, who had a shop on Franklin Street, between Lake and South Water streets, Chicago. Here he worked abont six months, when Mr. Mason, renting the building to John S. C. Hogan, moved to a new location on Lake Street, hear Dearborn. Mr. Lupton went to this new location to con- tinue his apprenticeship, and worked there ahout eighteen months, at the end of which time he moved to Half Day. in Lake County, where he remained about a year, when he returned to England. While in England he ironed a turnip drill for his father, and set a horse-shoe for one of his father's neighbors. This is all the blacksmithing he did in England. The shuiry atwhat his making a hoe there, "showing Juhuny Bull how to make a hoe." tokt with so much relish by various speakers at old settlers" meetings and pie-nies, is entirely gratuitous, Mr. Lupton, himself. nut krowing then how to ninke a hoe, While In England he was married 10 Miss Mary Arrowsmith, whom he brought to America with him. The story that Miss Arrow- smith was the promised bride of William West, who gave Mr. Lupton money with which to pay her passage to America, is emphatienlly denied by both Mr. and Mrs. Lupton. After returning to America he settled at Dutchman's Point and opened there the first blacksmith shop, in 1840, In which he carried on the trade for over twenty years, when he retired from active business, Ile and his wife now reside at the village of Niles.

JOHN PLANK was born at Hesse-Darmstadt, Gerinnny, in 180H. He came to America in 1831, remaining at Detroit one year. In 1832. he came to Chicago with the Ebinger brothers. He was the third to build a house at Duichman's Point, on a elaun just north of Christian Ebinger's. Here he carried on farming to some extent for a few years, and kept whisky, which he sold in Indians und travelers. When he left Dutchman's Point he went so Missouri, and there became n convert to the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In Missouri he preached on license for some Two years, and then went to Wisconsin, in which State he. remained four years, He then went to Chicago, where he Prmoined four years as presiding elder of the German Meth- alist Chntrh, ail was Then sent to Inwa. He remained in lowa until 1883, when he was sent to Dakota, where he still resides. His sister. Elizabeth, was married to John Ebinger, while he was married to Miss Elizabeth Ebinger.

CHRISTIAN EBINGER was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- minty. in 1812, in which city he had charge for a number of years of the flower garden of King William, of Wurtemberg. He immigrated 10 America in 1831, and lived one year in Detroit. where he was married to Miss Barbara Rehly. In 1832 he rame lo Chicago, und in 1834 10 Dutchman's Point, where with the exception of the rude log shanty built by Schadiger and Perren, he built the first house. This house was a log one, 24x14 feel, one story high. Here he carried on his farm and was a local preacher of the German Evangelical Association, preaching however only occasionally, and then mostly for churches temporarily destitute of a pastor. He died in 1879. His widow still lives. They have had seven children-Chris- tian, Henry, Margaret, Sarah, Eliza, Caroline and William.

NILES CENTRE.

This village lies near the center of the township. The first house built within its present limits was, as has been already stated in the history of the town- ship, a small log one where now stands the fine brick residence of Peter Blameuser, but whatever the design of Mr. O'Brien, its builder, it was not, in fact, the foundation of the village. This was made by Henry Harms in December, 1854, by building a small frame house abont sixty rods south of his present res- idence at the corner of Miller's Mill road, which runs north and south, and Harms Avenue, which runs east and west through the village. The second house was a log one built by Peter Bergmann in 1857, and during this same year A. J. Snell built a log house en the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 28. George Kay built a two-story brick house 24x24 feet in size. During this year Carl Breitzmann built a blacksmith shop, though this was not the first black- smith shop in the vicinity, as one was started some years eurlier in a village attempted to be started one- half mile north of the present village, by Samuel E. Ferris. In 1858, Henry Harms commenced the busi- ness of merchandising, keeping hardware 'and pro- visions until 1862, when he opened a general store in the front of his house which he had built in 1860. Peter Bergmann opened a general store and kept it six or eight months in his old house, when he built a franc house in which he kept it until 1867, when he sold to Peter Blamenser, who disposed of the dry goods portion of the business and retained only the saloon. A school-house was built one-half mile south of the village in 1858, which besides being used for school purposes, was also used for religious purpose by the Evangelical Lutherans for a short time, com- mencing in 1867. The post-office was established in 1864, Henry Harms being appointed Postmaster. and retaining the position until 1874. George C. Klehm then was appointed and retained the office two years. He was succeeded in 1876 hy M. C. Conrad, who was Postmaster three years. Henry Harrer was made Postmaster in 1879, and retained the office until 1881,

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when John W. Brown, the present incumbent, was appointed.

A green-house was started in 1874 by Stilo & Knsky. Mr. Kusky accidentally shot himself in 1880. His widow then continued the business in partnership with Mr. Stilo for two years, when she bought his interest and Schiller & Stilo started a new establishment in 1881. There are now these two green-honses in the village, and one other started in 1883 by A. J. Harms.

The German Evangelical Lutheran St. Peter's Church was organized May 5, 1867, by the Rev. E. Rencher, at this time minister of the German Church in East Northfield. Meetings were held for some time in the school-house one-half mile south of the village. The number of original members was thirty-five, a part of whom were the following: John Jarmuth, Henry Harms, George C. Klehm, Gust. Schraeder, Andrew Ross, John Ross, John Eggert, Fred Lnmpp, Rudolf Wagner, John Schaefer, Jolin Tess, Charles Scherer, Charles Iserman, Jacob Scherer, Joachim Mueller, John Ahrens, Joachim Rucsch, William Ruesch, Fred Kunstmann, Joachim Ludwig, Joachim Kindt, Jacob Franz, and John Marquardt. The Rev. Emile Reucher continned to preach for this Church until the fall of 1868. The Rev. F. W. E. Werner then became pastor and remained until January, 1881. He was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. Henry Wolf in June, 1881. The church building which stands on Harms Avenue, a little to the west of the center of the village, was erected in the summer of 1868. It is a two-story brick, 32x50 feet. The basement is used for a school-room, and residence for the minister, the upper story for audience room. The building is sur- mounted by a low tower, and cost, including pipe organ and furniture, about 84,000. The school was started about the time of the beginning of the Rev. Mr. Werner's pastorate, and while he remained had about eighty scholars, but when the Church became divided into two parts in 1880, the school was also divided, and now the school has about forty scholars.

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organ- ized in 1881, with thirty-five members, three-fonrthis of them having withdrawn from the St. Peter's Church. Among those who withdrew were Ernest Galitz, William Eggert, Henry Rohr, Christian Lang- feld, Charles Langfeld, William Schroeder, Charles Ode, Charles Eschi, Charles Witte, William Erickson, Fred Roehl and Joachim Groth. A number of reasons are assigned for the division of St. Peter's Church into two parts. One is that the members who withdrew were in the first place refused permission to vote on questions of finance, and then logically refused permission to vote on the returning of the Rev Mr. Werner in the pastorate, they desiring to dis- miss him. St. Peter's Church belongs to the German Evangelical Synod of North America, and tries to put in practice the polity of the United Evangelical Church, rather than that of the Lutheran or of the Reformed Church. Members of the Evan- gelical Intheran Synod of Missouri and other States were desirous that St. Peter's Church at Niles Centre should unite with their Synod, and many of the men- bers of the Church itself were desirous of being so united. This was one of the causes of the separation. St. Paul's Church thus was organized as a Lutheran Church. The Rev. Adam Detzer, Sr., preached the first sermon for this Church on Jannary 1, 1881, and remained three weeks. The first service was held in Peter Blameuser's Hall, and continued so to be

held until the first Sunday in August. A church building was then erected two stories high, 32x50 feet in size, with a comparatively massive tower and spire. The front room of the basement is fitted mp for a school-room, the rear part for a residence for the min- ister. The total cost of the building was about $4,500, including bel. and furniture. The Rev. Adam Detzer was succeeded, August 1, 1881, by his son, the Rav. Frederick Detzer, the present pastor. The number of active members of the Church is now 104.

The school was started by the Rev. Frederick Det- zer in October, 1881, and there have been in attend- ance at the school an average of eighty scholars dur- ing the past three years.

St. Peter's Catholic Church of Niles Centre was estab- lished in 1868, with thirty-five members. A frame building was erected 40x60 feet in size, costing $3,536. At present the membership of the Church is 100 fam- ilies. The first priest was Rev. Joseph Beineke, who remained nutil 1871. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. J. Thiele, who remained from 1871 to 1878. The Rev. Dennis Thiele then succeeded and remained nutil 1882. The Rev. W. J. Revis then was pastor from July, 1882, to January, 1883. The present pastor, the Rev. Clement Duerr became pastor in June, 1883.

A school-honse was orected in 1873 by the Rev. A. J. Thiele. The first teacher was a man whose name could not be ascertained, He remained until 1875, when the school passed into the hands of the Sisters of St. Dominic. At present there are ninety-five schol- ars and two teachers. The school-house has been enlarged since first erected, and is now a two-story frame in the form of a Roman cross. Niles Centre now contains two blacksmith shops, two meat markets, five stores, six saloons. one school, three churches, and a population of about 250 people.

MORTON GROVE.

This village is located on the Chicago, Milwankee & St. Paul Railway, fourteen miles from Chicago, and one and three-fourths miles northwest from Niles Cen- tre. The plat of the village, which includes a part of the northeast quarter of Section 19, and a part of the northwest quarter of Section 20, was certified to May 9, 1879. The station was located there originally on account of the fine gravel beds in the vicinity. There are now near this station a store, post-office, saloon, and a few residences. It is also the location of the pickle factory belonging to the Grove Pickle Com- pany, which is one of the largest factories of the kind in the county.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF XILES.

JOHN AHRENS is a nativeof Mecklenburg. Prussia, where he was born in 1826. He came to the United States in 1850, and located first at New Orleans, where he stayed three and a half years. Not liking it there, he removed to Niles Township, where he bought a farm of about a hundred acres. He fol- lowed farming till 1873, when he started a saloon at Ahrens' Grove, Niles Township, which he still keeps. He married Mary Kiampert in 1850, and has eight children, three sons and five daughters. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. He was Commissioner of Highways for two years, and has held other town offices.

PETER BLAMEUSER is a native of Prussia. He came to the United States in 1852. After remaining for some time in Chicago, he went West, and spent six years in the Rocky Mountains, principally in Colorado and Montana. He built

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the second house in Virginia City. He was an enforced assist- nut of a vigilance committee that hung thirty-three men for varlous crimes. By industry and perseverance he accumulated $10,000, with which he returned in 1865. Ile then bought 185 acres in Nites Township, upon part of which the present vil- Inge of Niles Centre is built. Ile laid out the village in lots, some of which realized $500 and $1,000, and built a large block. In January, 1865, he married Magdalena Ileinz. They have four sons and two daughters. He conducted a clothing store for two years, and commenced the saloon business in IN76. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and treasurer of the Niles Centre Fire Engine Company.

JOIN W. BROWN, of the firm of Meyer & Brown, dealers in dry goods and groceries, was born in Bavaria in 1852. Com- ing to Chicago in 1867, he then farmed and attended school alternately till he was able to teach. He taught the Niles t'entre school for three years. In ISNI, he entered into part- nership with Samuel Meyer, forming the firm of Meyer & Brown, successors to G. C. Klehm, one of the principal dry goods and grocery stores in Niles Centre. Hle was married in 1883 to Augusta Siegle.

REV. FREDERICK DETZER, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, at Nites l'entre, was born at Defiance, Ohio, Detober 12, 1876. Hle was the fifth child in a family of ten chil- dren, three girls and seven boys. In 1870 he entered C'ou- cordia t'ollege, Fort Wayne, Ind., where he remained nutil 1875, Imving passed the junior course. From March, 1876, to January, IN;7, he served as clerk in a store at. Despinines, Il. In this latter month he entered the Theological Seminary at Springfield, !!!. , and in April, 187H, was sent to Vandalia, Mo., as an assistant preacher, and in May, 1879, to Rockford, IH., in the same capacity. In June, 1880, he graduated at the Sem- inary, and was then u German Lutheran missionary in Minne- wota, Dakota, Montana and along the Northern Pacific Rail- road from August, 1880, to July, 1x21. In July, 1881, he received a call from St. Paul's Lutheran t'hurch, then recently organized at Niles d'entre, was Installed August 1, 1881, and still remains in charge of the Church. Hle was married to Miss Anna Fromhold, of t'hiengo, December 6, 18H].

JOIN 4. DIBOS, general merchant, was born in Prussia in 1840. Ills father, Mathias, immigrated with his family to the United States while he was quite young, and settled at Alexandria, Campbell t'o., Ky., where they remained five years. Then they removed to St. John, Ind. After living there six years, they reinoved to t'hieago. Here Mr. Dibos learned the trade of a cigar-maker, and conducted a fuetory and cigar store of his own for ten years. In 1883 he came to Morton Grove, Niles Township, and bought out Lochner's general store and saloon, in which business he lins been engaged ever since. In 1878 he married Caroline Kosche. and has three daughters. Mr. Dibos is Postmaster at Morton Grove, and is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

BENJAMIN EMERSON. farmer, P O. Evanston, was born in State of New York, ninety miles from l'sica, ou March 27, 1810. At the age of six mouths he was taken by his parents to Mt. Archer Ilill, New London Co., Conn .. where he was brought up npon a farm. In 1895 he came to Chicago and engaged in selling milk. Ile came to Niles Township in 1839, and purchased a claim, upon which he is now living. being the oldest settler in that township. In 1850 he went to t'alifornia, mining and prospecting up to 1854, when he returned to Niles Township, and there has since resided. He married Miss Kiley, of Ireland, January 19, 1839, in Chicago. They have three children-John. Louisa (now Mrs. William Savage ofChicago), and Anna (now Mrs. Itapp, of Cook County).

HENRY HARMS, builder and contractor, popularly known as "Farmer Harms," was born at Mecklenburg- Schwerin, In 1832. Immigrating to the United States in 1851, he worked at farming, near ('hirngo, for the first three years, and succeeded in getting the rest of the family, with the exception of an elder brother, to this country in 1856. Hle purchased a farm in 1854 und was married, In 1850, to louisa Nicholas, of Mecklenburg, by whom he had eleven children, four boys and five girls of whom are still living. He has held many important offices, first as Constable, in 1855, next ns Commissioner of Highways, In 1860 he was elected Supervisor, which office he hekl till the Board of Commissioners was established, in 1871. Hle was nominated for the office of County Treasurer in 1871. but the fire defeated his election. lle was appointed by tiov, Beveridgo as Cook County Drainage Commissioner, which office he held till that body passed out of existence. He is nt present Com- missioner of Highways. In the fall of 1875 he took the con- tract for bullding the foundation and sub-basement of the Chicago Court-House, which he finished in a highly satisfac- tory manner in 1876. Owing to a change of plans the work

was largely increased, and the Commissioners refused to pay Mr. Harms's just claim. An appeal to the law followed, and after extensive litigation, his full claim was allowed, although not until 1883. In addition to the above, Mr. Hlarins was the originator of the Lincoln Avenue and Niles Centro gravel mal, was Postmaster at Niles C'entre for about twelve years, and the founder of three school districts east of the river. He kept n store in Niles C'entre for six years, and was a stock- holder in the (., M. & St. P. R. R. The drainage of Niles Township was conducted under his supervision, as was the construction of nearly all the public roads.

ALBERT J. HARMS, gardener and florist, was born in 1863 at Niles t'entre, Receiving a good practical education at Nles t'entre, he afterwards took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Business t'ollege, t'hicago, Ile went into the green- house business in 1882, and has a splendidly sheltered location in a fine oak grove. Hle already has three large green-houses, containing 7,500 square feet of glass, heated by hot water pipes, and intends to increase its capacity this year. Mr. Harms is a member of the Lutheran Church.

HENRY HARRER, store-keeper, was born in Bavaria in IN29. Ile came to the United States in 1845, and settled in the township of Niles, where he farmed until 1878, at which time he started a store and saloon in Niles C'entre. In 1853 he married Kathrina Neep, of Bavaria. Their family consists of four sons and three daughters, Mr. Harrer has held various town offices. Ile was one of the first school directors. which office he held for fifteen years. Ile was Overseer of Highways for seven years, and Commissioner of same for elghteen years, Assessor for two years, and Justice of the Peace for nineteen years, He is a member of the Roman t'atholie Church.

MICHAEL HARRER, butcher, is a native of Bavaria, being horn there in 1825. Leaving his native country, he came In the United States in 1845, and farmed for seven years In Niles Township. In 1852, he went to California. by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and spent three years there, mining and fanning. In 1855, he returned to Niles Township, where he formeil till 1874, when he started the meat market in Niles Centre which he still carries on. In 1855, he married Mar- garet Scherer, by whom he has seven sons and five daughters. He has one son in the ment-market business, and another a blacksmith in Chicago. Ile is a member of the Roman Cath- olie Church.

THEODORE HOFFMANN, M. D., was born at Herfond, Westphalia, Prussia, in 1820. Ile received a liberal education. and studied for the medical profession in the universities of Munster and Berlin. After passing his examination, he was appointed assistant staff surgeon in the l'russian Army, in which position he remained four years. He left Prussia and came to the L'nited States in 1848, settling first at Schaumburg. Cook County, where he remained one year, removing thence to Niles, where he remained. practicing medicine, until 1868, when he removed to Chicago. The fire of 1871 burned the Dortor's office and four houses belonging to him. He then returned to Niles, where he has practiced ever since. In 1850, he married Engel Ilintze. They have three sons-Julius, Emil and Otto, the youngest of whom is one of the proprie- tors of the large pottery works at Niles. His first wife dying in 1873, he married Christina Fowler, of Canada. Besides holding laudatory testimonies from several celebrated German rulleges, the Doctor has the honorary degree from the Rush Medical College, of Chicago. As a medical practitioner, the Doctor has been successful, having practiced for thirty-five years in Cook County, where he is still engaged in active work.

GEORGE C. KLEHM, Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner, was born in Duedelsheim, Hesse-Darmstadt. Germany. July 29. 1839. He came to the United States in 1851, with his mother and brother, John. llis mother still lives with him, and his brother Is occupied in the nursery business at Arlington Heights, Cook County. Hle located first at Buffalo, N. Y., whence he removed to Jefferson, Cook County, in the spring of 1855. He learned the trade of a briek-Inyer, in which occupation he was engaged in Chicago and Jefferson till 1863. During the wititer months, he attended school, improving his education, till. in 1860, he obtained a teacher's certificate from the County Superintendent of Schools, J. F. Eberhart, and taught school during the winter, for a number of years, in the townships of Jefferson, Niles, and Northfield. In 1864 he removed to Niles Centre, where he kept store till in August. 1880. In 1864, he married Eliza Harins, by whom he hatt six children, all of whom are living. Mrs. Klehm died of heart disease in 1878, and in 1881 he mar- ried Miss Eliza Ruesch, by whom he has one daughter. Mr. Klehm has held many important public offices. In 1860, he was Town Clerk of Jefferson, and subsequently, for a number

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 118

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas Number of Pages: 875

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875