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C. O. Collmann, of the banking house of Hettinger, Collmann & Co., Freeport, Ill., is a native of Germany, and was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, on the 1st of November, 1822. At the age of six years he was sent to school, and continued until the age of fourteen. His parents resided on a farm, where young Collmann resided and assisted in the work until he reached the age of twenty-eight. In June, 1850, he emigrated to America, making his first landing on these shores at the city of New Orleans. Having taken passage in a sailing-vessel, and the weather being unfavorable most of the time, eighty-five days were occupied in making the voyage. From New Orleans he made his way to St. Louis, and thence up the Mississippi River to Savanna, Ill.; from Savanna he came to Stephenson County, where he found employment on a farm at the low price oF $7 per month. Even at these low wages he saved money and accumulated means enough to return to Germany in 1854. On his return to Germany he was married to Miss Aafke Rademacher, and returned to America, bringing his wife with him, and again came to Stephenson County, where he resumed farming in Ridott Township. He continued in that occupation until 1866, when he moved to Freeport and engaged in the mercantile business, which he continued for nine years. In 1876 he embarked in the banking business, and became a member of the present firm upon the organization of the bank.
Mr. Collmann is one of the stockholders and Directors of the German Insurance Company. He has held the position of Director constantly from the beginning, was Vice President of the company for two years, served it as President for the same length of time, and was then elected Treasurer of the company, which position he has held for the past twelve years. He is a Director and President of the new Union Manufacturing Company, which makes a specialty of manufacturing coffee mills, and which turns out 75,000 annually. He is one of the Directors of the Henney Buggy Company, and Treasurer of a loan and building association. He is a Director of the Y. M. C. A., and a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
Not only has Mr. Collmann been active in building up the material industries of Freeport, but he has assisted in establishing a standard of good morals for his adopted city. Being a man of ample means he stands ready to assist and give credit to any worthy business enterprise, and as freely and as willingly contributes of his means to any movement for the betterment of his neighbors and fellow citizens. Such a man is always a valuable citizen, and an appreciative community generally rates him at his true worth. Mr. Collmann is eminently a self-made man. Beginning his career in Stephenson County on less than $10, he has accumulated a handsome competency, owns large property interests, and lives in a palatial residence which is richly furnished and handsomely surrounded. Mr. and Mrs. Collmann are the parents of nine children, five boys and four girls. While not taking an active part, at least to the point of being offensive to his neighbors, in politics Mr. Collmann is a stanch Democrat, and generally makes it convenient to go to the polls on election day and vote for the favorites named as candidates for office by the party.
The portrait gallery of worthy and representative citizens and pioneers of Stephenson County would be incomplete without a picture of this energetic, liberal-minded and public-spirited citizen, and we take pleasure in giving his portrait a place on an accompanying page of this work.
Contributed by Carol Parrish
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