Stephenson County Genealogy & History

Stephenson County Biographies

JACOB KROHN

HON. JACOB KROHN. The eminently admirable career of this well-known resident of Northern Illinois, has been closely identified with the various interests of Freeport and vicinity, and must of necessity be briefly detailed in a work of this kind. Mr. Krohn was born in Prussia, Feb. 22, 1832, where he spent his early years. In accordance with the laws and customs of his native country, he was placed in school at an early age, and received a good education in his native tongue. When fourteen years old he was apprenticed to a tobacconist and served four years. He became an expert at the trade, but was not satisfied with his condition or his prospects in his native land. Before reaching his majority he determined to seek his fortune in the New World. Accordingly, boarding a sailing-vessel at the port of Hamburg, he bade adieu to his old friends and early associations, and after a voyage of four months landed in the city of New York in January, 1852.
Young Krohn did not long remain in the metropolis, but proceeding to Saugerties, in Ulster County, secured employment at his trade, and took up his residence there, where he remained until the spring of 1855. The wider fields of the West now appeared to him as a more desirable place for enterprising young men. After visiting Freeport he resolved to make it his permanent abiding-place. Soon after coming here he established himself in the tobacco business, and at once began building up a profitable trade, which finally assumed such proportions that he was enabled to command a snug fortune.
Jacob Krohn’s natural energy of character, and genuine interest which he took in everything pertaining to the advancement of public good, commended him to the esteem and confidence of the people of Freeport, and it was not long until his name became familiarly known as one of its most enterprising citizens. He was soon called upon to fill various offices. He was chosen Alderman from the Third Ward, which position he held four years. He was also a member of the County Board of Supervisors. At this time the magnificent county court-house was under process of construction, and Mr. Krohn was at once appointed a member of the building committee, and introduced measures which added greatly to the prestige of the board in their deliberations concerning the outlay of funds, and various other important questions connected therewith. This structure is the pride of Stephenson County, and an ornament to the city of Freeport. Mr. Krohn was twice elected Alderman from the Third Ward, and served two terms as Mayor of the city. He was a member of the Board of Education from 1878 to 1881, during which time the First Ward school-house was being built, and which is now known as the High School building. This structure is also a credit to its projectors. The educational element of Freeport has been one of its distinctive features, and no man has been more warmly interested in the wise maintainance (sic) of its schools than Mr. Krohn.
Afterward the present High School building was put up, and Mr. Krohn was again appointed a member of the School Board, to assist in carrying forward another most important enterprise, and one closely connected with the interests of the people. This building, in point of size and architecture, is not excelled by any in the State, and is a credit to its people as well as the board having it in charge. After the organization of the Second National Bank, Mr. Krohn became one of its leading stockholders, and in 1883 was elected its President, which position he has since held.
Perhaps the distinguishing point in the character of our subject is the quality of benevolence which he possesses in a marked degree, and the reverence for whatever is in itself of good repute. His name has been especially prominent in the various beneficiary societies of the State, and his talents as a brother and leader have developed more than ordinary ability. His name has been prominently associated with Odd Fellowship in Illinois. After having been in this country but two years he was admitted as a member of Confidence Lodge No. 51, at Saugerties, N. Y. Soon after his arrival in Freeport, he identified himself with Winneshiek Lodge No. 30. The need of a German lodge in Freeport soon becoming apparent, Brother Krohn was chiefly instrumental in the organization of Freeport Lodge No. 239, being one of its charter members. This was organized in 1857, its membership being entirely composed of Germans. Subsequently Mr. Krohn became identified with Western Star Encampment, No. 25, from which, however, he afterward withdrew, in order to assist in the organization of S. A. Douglas Encampment No. 100, of which he was also a charter member.
From this we see that Brother Krohn has been a progressive Odd Fellow, and during his connection with the bodies above mentioned he officiated in every capacity where he could make himself useful, having at different times held about every office in both lodge and encampment. Recently he has become actively identified with the Rebecca Degree, having been instrumental in organizing Busy Bee Lodge No. 138, of that degree, which is a most flourishing lodge, and one of the most prosperous and valuable adjuncts to the order in the city. After passing through the several gradations in the Grand Encampment, Brother Krohn was in 1875 elected Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of Illinois, and the following year represented this body in the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United States, which in 1877 met in the city of Baltimore. He was, however, obliged to decline this distinction, as his duties as Mayor of the city at a time when the State Fair was being held in Freeport, seemed to him of too much importance to be relegated to other hands. He was extremely desirous that the strangers who would naturally visit the city at this time should leave it with a good opinion of its municipal government, and accordingly, much to the regret of the Odd Fellows of the State, remained at his post. Too much credit could not have been given Mr. Krohn at this time for the sacrifice of his feelings and inclinations, as the convocation of the Sovereign Lodge at that time was a memorable event in the order, and one at which every brother esteemed it a high privilege to be present.
Mr. Krohn is equally prominent in Masonry. With this fraternity he also became connected while in Saugerties, becoming identified with Ulster Lodge No. 93, Feb. 7, 1855. In 1856, after coming to Freeport, he joined Excelsior Lodge No. 97. He is also a member of Freeport Chapter No. 23, R. A. M., and of Freeport Council and Freeport Consistory, and has held all the minor offices, besides that of Presiding Officer, in Lodge, Chapter and Council. He has been Treasurer of the Consistory for the past seven years, and Deputy Grand Master for the Fifth Masonic District for a long period. He is also Past Grand Royal Arch Captain of the Chapter, and now Principal Sojourner. His connection with the relief funds of the several orders, especially the life insurance feature, has been of long standing and particularly active, and has resulted in much good to individual members. For many years Mr. Krohn has been a Director and member of the Finance Committee, and President of the Illinois Masonic Benevolent Society of Princeton, and how holds a similar position in the Covenant Mutual Benevolent Association, in the working of which he has taken a leading part. The large and increasing permanent reserve funds held by these societies, and adding so much to the welfare of the members, have had no stronger champion than Mr. Krohn. He has also recently been elected a Trustee and Vice President of the Illinois Masonic Orphans’ Home, an institution just being started by the Masons of the State, and which bids fair to be one of the shining ornaments of the fraternity.
Mr. Krohn was married, March 22, 1857, to Miss Dora Fleischman, a native of Germany. They have eight children, seven girls and one boy – Bertha, Moses, Lena, Maime, Emma, Rosa, Carrie and Edna. Of these Bertha is the wife of Henry J. Streng, of Richmond, Ky.; Moses lives in Milwaukee, Wis.; Maime is the wife of Leon Hiller, and lives in Waverley, Iowa; Emma is at La Porte, Ind., taking a Normal course; the others are at home. Mr. Krohn is in the prime of life, being fifty-five years of age. His dark hair is scarcely touched with gray. The cares and worry of life have affected him lightly. He is active and energetic, and always first in any enterprise calculated to enhance the growth of the city or any of the institutions with which he is connected, and bids fair to long continue a useful career.
Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 279

JACOB KROHN, Freeport, is the president of the Second National bank of that city, and his careful and conservative management has made it one of the solid institutions of the North-west, for its name and reputation extend far beyond the limits of city or county.
Mr. Krohn was born in Pyritz, Pomerania, Prussia, February 22, 1832, exactly one hundred years after the birth of Washington, and received his early education in the schools of his native city. When he was twenty years old he left his Prussian home to found another under more kindly auspices on the soil of the New World. He embarked on the sailing vessel " Gutenberg," leaving Hamburg in October, 1852, and after a long and perilous voyage of some four months landed at New York early in the following year. The vessel was much tossed about by rough and stormy winds, and came into the harbor bereft of the greater portion if not all of its sails. He was glad enough to press his foot once more upon the solid earth. He had learned the trade of making cigars, and found employment in that occupation in the cities of New York and Saugerties for some two years. He came to Chicago in 1855, and very shortly after to Freeport. This city pleased him, and he determined that his home should be here. He rented a shop and began to manufacture and sell cigars. He made good goods, was accommodating and friendly, and his trade increased so rapidly that in 1858 he was forced to seek larger quarters. In 1861 he built a large store on Stephenson street where he continued in business -until 1886. In 1871 he had become a stockholder in the Second National bank, and the following year was made one of its directors. He took so' readily to the banking business and displayed such an insight into its more complicated processes that in 1877 he was appointed acting cashier, and in 1884 was elected president.
Under the strain of his many responsibilities and the burden of double work, principally in the management of the affairs of the bank, the health of Mr. Krohn became much impaired, and, acting upon competent medical counsel, he made a visit to Europe that covered two months, and renewed the intimacies of his early life. Doubtless he reflected upon the rapid progress that had been made in the improvement of ocean travel. His parents, Isaac and Catherine (Dobrien) Krohn, spent their entire lives in Germany, and died at the ages of seventy and eighty, respectively. In Berlin two brothers are living. Joseph, a retired merchant, may be justly entered upon the pages of this biographical history as one of the representative characters of his native county, a leading farmer and a public official of unblemished reputation.
Mr. Krohn has been twice married. His first wife was Dora Fleischman, a daughter of Benjamin and Golda Fleischman. She was the mother of eight children, and died in 1893 leaving memories of a beautiful character far above the average. Seven of these children are now living. Bertha married H. J. Streng, and lives in Richmond, Kentucky. Moses J. lives in Freeport, and Lena, who married Moritz Stein, has her home in Chicago. Emma is Mrs. M. Herbst, of Fargo, North Dakota, and Rosa, Mrs. Julius Cole, of Chicago, where also her sister Carrie, who married I. G. Levy, lives. Edna is at home, and finished her course in the Freeport High School in 1898. For his second wife Mr. Krohn married Mrs. Carrie Feitler, of Cincinnati.
He is a democrat, and has been honored by his party with the nomination for many important local and county offices. He was alderman five years, supervisor one year and mayor four years. For many years he has occupied the presidency of the board of education, and has taken a most enlightened interest in all matters relating to the great work of popular instruction. He is a Mason of high degree and long association with the mystic order. He belongs to all the Freeport Masonic bodies, such as the Lodge, Chapter, Commandery and Consistory, and has filled all the official chairs. At different times he has served as deputy Grand Master in five districts. The same thing may be said of his career in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He belongs to all the bodies and has occupied all the chairs, and he. is a member of the Grand Lodge, in which he is serving as chairman of the finance committee, a position he has held for many years.
History of Stephenson County