WILLIAM HAHNE

WILLIAM HAHNE, a well-known citizen and dealer in agricultural implements in Mattison,  Cook County, was born in Hanover, Germany, February 2, 1834, and is one of six children, namely: Emma, Henry, Mary, Frederick Diedrich, William and Louis.  Their parents, Diedrich and Marie (Biermann) Hahne, were also natives of Germany.  The father died when our subject was about seven years of age, leaving quite an estate to the eldest son, Henry, who was to care for and educate the other members of the family.  With his younger brothers and sisters, therefore, he left his native land and set sail for the New World, landing in Chicago on the 2d of October, 1850.

William Hahne acquired his education in the public schools of Germany.  At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed for three years to William Wayman, a wagon and carriage maker of Chicago.  After learning his trade, he worked for John Borman and Mr. Whitbeck, both of Chicago.  In 1858 he embarked in business for himself in Elk Grove, Cook County, where he carried on operations as a wagon and carriage maker until 1862.   In that year he came to Mattison and continued in the same business, to which in a short time he added a complete line of agricultural implements and farm machinery.  About the year 1882, on account of failing health, he abandoned wagon and carriage making, but still carries on the other lines, and is now enjoying a prosperous trade, which is the sure reward of untiring energy and straight forward business principles.

Mr. Hahne was married in the summer of 1858 to Sophia L. Shumacher, daughter of John Shumacher, a native of Germany.  She was born in the same country in 1836.  Their children are: John Fredrick Henry, who was born in Elk Grove, Cook County, Ill., June 11, 1859, and died January 23, 1865; Dora Maria Berthe, who was born in Elk Grove, Cook County, Ill., September 21, 1860, and is now the wife of William H. Depke, a grocer of Danville, Ill.; Henrietta D. Marie Emma,  born in Elk Grove April 18, 1862, the wife of Fred Utermark, proprietor of the Mattison House, of Mattison, Cook County, Ill.; Marie Caroline, who was born in Mattison, and is the wife of Henry Tueachman, a cigar manufacturer of Chicago Heights; Willemine Dorethea Mathilda, who was born in Mattison, March 11, 1866, and is the wife of Frank Kort, a baker of Dalton, Ill.; Diedrich William F., who was born in Mattison, November 12, 1867, and is a grocer of Danville, Ill.; Henry Carl George, who was born January 18, 1870, and died October 12, 1880; H. Gus Louis, who was born January 23, 1873, and died December 18, 1874; Caroline Marie Sophia, born in Mattison, February 3, 1874: Anna Sophia Dorthe, born October 23, 1876; and Amanda Marie W. C., born in Mattison, January 12, 1883.  The last three are at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Hahne are members of the German Lutheran Church, and have educated their children in that faith, and have also given them a thorough English education.  Mr. Hahne has ever been a liberal contributor to the support of the church.  His education was acquired in the schools of the Fatherland when quite young, but although he never attended the public schools after coming to America, by observation and close application, he has acquired a good knowledge of English.   He is an ardent supporter of our public-school system, and his influence has been thrown into every educational movement.  To him more than to any other citizen of Mattison is the public indebted for ten months school in each year, not only in public, but also in the parochial schools.  As Director of Township Treasurer, he has served almost continuously since his arrival in Rich Township.

On the 22d of October, 1856, Mr. Hahne received his naturalization papers, and in the following November he cast his first vote.   He has always been a stanch Republican, holding firmly to the principles upon which the organization of this party was based.   He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for the long period of twenty-five years, that of Notary Public for twelve years, and President of the Village Board of Trustees for four years.  To the performance of his duties he has brought an intelligent mind and the right idea of the practicability of a movement.  He is true to every trust, and his public and private life are alike above reproach.  Happy in a promising family, he has become the possessor of a reputation for unsullied integrity of character.

                -- Submitted on December 27, 2000 by Haz Hahne (hahneh@yahoo.com)