Arthur J. Herrcke, bookkeeper in charge of the purchasing and disbursing
department of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, LaSalie, Illinois, was
born in Prussia, Germany, May 6, 1861.
He is a son of Ernest and
Henrietta (von Wellatovski) Herrcke, both natives of Danzig, Prussia,
Germany. The father had in his veins a mixture of German and French blood.
His paternal ancestors being purely German while on the maternal side they
were French, some members of the family having gone from France to Germany
in the time of the reign of Napoleon the Great. On his mother's side the
immediate subject of this sketch is of Polish origin, his great-grandfather
having been Graf Von Wellatovski. Arthur J. is the second of a family of
four children, the others being Charles, Robert and Max, all natives of
Germany. The mother with her children came to America in the year 1867, and
joined the father in Janesville, Wisconsin, he having come to this country
the previous year. His original intention was to go to South America, but on
arriving at Cuba he changed his plans and came to the United States,
locating first in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From there he went to Janesville and
came thence to LaSalle, Illinois, in the year 1869. He came to LaSalle to
take charge of the sales department of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc
Company, a position he held up to the time of his death, in May, 1885, at
the age of fifty-one years. His widow is still a resident of LaSalle.
Arthur J. Herrcke was six years old when he was brought to America. He
was reared in LaSalle. Illinois, and educated in its public schools. At the
age of fourteen he entered the employ of the same company with which his
father was connected, the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, and as
messenger boy began his service in this establishment. During the years he
served as messenger boy he attended night sessions in a business college and
thus learned practical bookkeeping. That was from 1878 to 1880. At the same
time he had charge of the company's printing office. He was transferred from
the messenger position to one in the sales department, and was promoted to
his present position, that of bookkeeper in charge of the purchasing and
disbursing department, in 1886. His entire service with the company has been
characterized by promptness and fidelity, and that his faithfulness has been
appreciated is evidenced by his promotion and continuance with the same
concern.
Mr. Herrcke was married in LaSalle, in 1888, to Miss Adela
Moeller, daughter of Frederick and Bertha Moeller. Her father was born in
Saxony, Germanv, and when fourteen years of age was brought to this country
by his parents who located in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, whence they
subsequently came to LaSalle, Illinois. Mr. Moeller was a brother of Mrs. F.
W. Matthiessen, of LaSalle. Mrs. Herrcke's grandparents resided many years
in LaSalle and her grandfather was an ore purchaser for the Matthiessen &
Hegeler Zinc Company. Mrs. Herrcke's mother was born in Pennsylvania, of
German parentage, and is the mother of eight children, two of whom are
deceased; and she now resides in LaSalle. Mrs. Herrcke's father died in
1892. Her maternal grandfather, Fredrick Ehemann, went west during the gold
excitement of 1849, prospered, returned home, and then went west again and
was never heard from. It is believed he was murdered for his money, for he
had a large sum. Mr. and Mrs. Herrcke have five children — Ernest, Otto,
Hildagard, Ralph and Florence. Mr. Herrcke is a Republican.
Extracted 18 Aug 2017 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 511-513.
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