Adolph F. Herzig, foreman in the machinists' department of the
Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Works, LaSalle, is, like many of the employes of
that establishment, a native of Oberhausen, Germany, born September 3, 1858,
a son of Adolph and Mary (Kottenbach) Herzig, and one of a family of four
children, whose names in order of birth are as follows: Adolph F.; Otto, a
machinist of Chicago; Ida, married and living in Chicago; and Ewald, also a
machinist of Chicago.
Adolph F. was reared in his native land,
receiving there the rudiments of an education and learning the trade of
machinist. For a time he was employed in a large steel works and later in
the shipyard at Wilhelm's Haven. When a young man he left Germany, in order
to avoid the army service required by law in that country, and came to
America, landing in Baltimore, Maryland, February 22, 1879. From that city
he immediately came west to Missouri and secured employment on a cattle
ranch near Kansas City. He landed in this country without means and with but
little education, knowing not a word of English, but during the year he
spent in Missouri he learned to speak English and has since learned to read
and write it; and while his advantages for schooling were limited he has in
the broad school of experience picked up a fund of useful information.
Mr. Herzig's brother Otto came to the United States in 1880 and secured
employment in the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Works in LaSalle, Illinois, and
the same year Adolph F. joined him here and also entered the employ of this
concern. Working together and saving their money, the brothers soon
accumulated money enough to send for their parents, which they did in 1881.
They came and settled in LaSalle, but soon afterward removed to Chicago and
there the father died, in 1885, at the age of fifty-three years. The mother
then returned to LaSalle, where she now resides.
Adolph F. Herzig
has been continuously in the employ of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc
Company since he came here with the exception of two years, 1885 to 1887,
during which time he ran a machine shop of his own in LaSalle. At the end of
the two years, on resuming work with the company, he was made foreman, which
position he has since filled. He has an excellent reputation both as a
skilled machinist and as a trusted employe, and it may be added that his
success in life is due to his own efforts.
October 18, 1881, Mr.
Herzig married Miss Kunigunda Seiwerth, of German birth and a native of his
own town, and they have six children, viz.: Helena, Jacob, William, Adela,
Adolph and Ferdinand.
The family belong to the Roman Catholic church
and Mr. Herzig is a pronounced Republican in politics.
Extracted 18 Aug 2017 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 518-519.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
