NICHOLAS STOLL

NICHOLAS STOLL, a prominent citizen of Blue Island, now engaged in manufacturing in Chicago, was born in the canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, on the 13th of March, 1843. His parents were Nicholas and Elizabeth Stoll.  The father was a farmer by occupation, and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life in Switzerland.

In the usual manner of farmer lads our subject spent his boyhood and youth.  He acquired his education in the public schools, and at the age of sixteen started out in life for himself.   He began to learn the trade of cabinet-making, which he followed until 1864, at which time he bade adieu to the friends and home of his childhood and sailed for America.  When he had reached the New World he went direct to Chicago, where he worked at his trade for a few months. He then entered the service of his adopted country, enlisting on the 15th of February, 1865, as a member of Company G, First Illinois Light Artillery, which was stationed at Memphis until the close of the war. He did guard duty most of the time, and when the war was over was honorably discharged, on the 24th of July, 1865.

On his return to Cook County, Mr. Stoll was employed in a factory where were manufactured billiard tables, and as the result of his fidelity to duty he soon became foreman of the establishment, which position he filled until the factory was destroyed in the great fire which swept over the city in the fall of 1871. He continued to work in the same line of business until 1877 as an employe, but at that time opened a factory of his own at Nos. 179 to 183 Illinois Street, where he still conducts an extensive business.  His trade has constantly increased from the beginning, and employment is now furnished to about sixty men. He has also been a stockholder in the Garden City Billiard Table Company since its organization in 1887.

On the 24th of February, 1868, Mr. Stoll was joined in wedlock with Miss Wilhelmina Kantzler, daughter of Christian Kantzler, a resident of Blue Island.  The lady was born in Saxe-Weimar, Germany, and came to America with her parents when a child of three years.  Six children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Stoll, five of whom are yet living, namely: William F., Emma, Otto, Lydia and Edgar.  Adelia, the second in order of birth, has passed away.

Mr. Stoll takes considerable interest in civic societies, holding membership with the Grand Army of the Republic, Independent Order of Foresters and the ancient Order of United Workmen.  He also belongs to the Blue Island Liederkranz and to Wahalla Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs.  In politics he is a Republican, having been a stalwart supporter of that party since he cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. U. S. Grant.  He has never been an aspirant for public office, yet served for two years as Trustee of Blue Island.  He has built up an extensive business since coming to America, although he brought no capital with him from the Old Country. His success is due entirely to his own efforts, and he may well be called a self-made man.  He is an intelligent, social gentleman, of  pleasing address, and in the community has many warm friends and agreeable acquaintances.

— Submitted by Sherri Hessick on December 27, 2000.

DISCLAIMER: The submitter is not related to the subject of this biography nor is she related to anyone mentioned in the biography.