Herman F. Hanke, Superintendent of the Street Department of Freeport, although comparatively a young man is properly numbered among the early settlers of Stephenson County, having arrived here in 1847, when one year old. He was born in the city of Bremen, Germany, Sept. 25, 1846, and is the son of Herman and Henrietta (Grotewold) Hanke, natives of the same city as their son, where they were reared and married. In the year 1847, in company with many others the family emigrated to the United States, landing at New Orleans and proceeding thence by boat up the Mississippi to Savanna and from there to Freeport. They reached their destination on the 12th of June, 1847, and the father of our subject engaged in teaming from Freeport to Chicago. Subsequently he entered the employ of the Galena & Chicago Union, now the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, and the Illinois Central, having in charge numbers of men working on these roads. The elder Hanke, in 1856, crossed the Mississippi into Fayette County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until 1861. He then returned to Freeport and resumed his former occupation as a teamster, which he still pursues. During his long residence in the city he has been known as a responsible and reliable man, and years ago established himself as a worthy citizen.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the free schools of Freeport, and continued under the parental roof during his childhood and youth. When eighteen years old he began learning the trade of a mason under the instruction of Bernhardt Huenkemeier, in which capacity he was employed five years and during which time he became thoroughly acquainted with the business. In 1870 he was engaged upon the court-house which adorns the public square of Freeport, remaining with the work until its completion. For five years following he had charge of similar work in Chicago with the firm of Dammeier & Elder, then returning to Freeport he engaged in contracting on his own account, which he still follows.

Mr. Hanke has filled the offices of Assistant Supervisor two terms, Highway Commissioner three years, and is now serving his third term as Superintendent of streets. In the discharge of the duties of these various trusts, he has established a reputation for good judgment and ability, and has attended to the duties assigned him with conscientious care. He allows nothing to be half-way done, and possesses a thorough knowledge of the work required in his department.

Mr. Hanke has kept himself well posted upon the political affairs of his adopted country, and dates his Republican proclivities from the time when a lad of twelve years of age he listened to the famous speech of Abraham Lincoln at Freeport, in which the latter produced most forcible arguments against slavery, which convinced more than one of the propriety of the stand he had taken. Young Hanke cast his first Presidential vote for U. S. Grant, and there is now more reliable or conscientious adherent of Republican principles to be found anywhere.

Our subject grew up in the midst of a community whose universal respect he won by his inborn manliness and native ability, and in 1870 was united in marriage with one of the most estimable young ladies of Freeport, namely, Miss Sarah E. Stichter, daughter of Levi and Catherine (Wingert) Stichter, the wedding being celebrated at the home of the bride in Jo Daviess County, Ill. The young people commenced life together in a modest dwelling at Freeport, and in due time became the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, namely, Katie, born Dec. 13, 1870; Henry, July 23, 1872; Albert, Jan. 27, 1874, and May Bell, Jan. 27, 1876. They occupy a comfortable home in the western part of the city, on Clay street, and number among their friends and associates the most cultivated people of Freeport and vicinity.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 674