|
Back to Family
Index
Henry Harms (1831-1914)
Henry Harms, the "many sided genius",
popularly known as "Farmer Harms", often referred to as "the great man of Niles
Township", and known all over cook County, was born at Mecklenburg, Schwerine,
Germany, on September 29th, 1831.
Immigrating to the United States in
1851, he worked at farming, near Chicago, for three years. During this time he
succeeded in getting his family to American, with the exception of his elder
brother.
He purchased a farm in Niles Center in
1854, and in 1855 he married Louisa Nickolas of Mecklenburg. They had eleven
children, five boys and six girls.
The foundation of the village of Niles
Center was virtually laid by henry Harms in 1854 in the building of the first
small frame house at the corner of Miller's Mill Road, which runs north and
south,, and Harms Avenue (now Oakton Street) which runs east and west through
the village.
In 1858 he began the business of
merchandising, selling hardware and provisions, until 1862, when he opened a
store in the front of his home which he had built in 1860.
Henry Harms seemed to hold all
offices, from the humblest to the highest in Cook County. He first served as
Constable in 1855, then as Commissioner of Highways. In 1860 he was elected
Supervisor, which office he held until the Board of Commissioners was
established in 1871. Another office to which he was appointed was Cook County
Drainage Commissioner.
In 1861, when the Civil War broke out,
Abraham Lincoln appointed Mr. Harms to draft soldiers for the war.
This busy man was also known as "The
Magic Road Builder". He was the originator of Lincoln Avenue. The first section
that he built was then known as Niles Center Gravel Road. It extended from the
bend at Galitz Avenue and Niles Center Road to East Prairie Road. A little later
Mr. Harms opened Lincoln Avenue as far as Halsted Street. Practically the entire
road was made of planks. The country at that time was one grand primeval forest
of fine stately trees, and it is hard for one to realize the difficulties
encountered in the making of a road. He operated five toll gates along Lincoln
Avenue, and the revenue derived from this method of taxation was used to
maintain the road. He owned and controlled this road from 1866 to 1880, at which
time it was taken over by the County.
Mr. Harms was one of the thirty-five
original members of the German Evangelical Lutheran St. Peter's Church in Niles
Center, which was organized May 5, 1867.
In the early part of 1867 he was
appointed as Delegate to Springfield to procure from the Legislature the
enactment of the Bounty Tax for Niles Township. He was successful in his
mission, the act having been approved on February 12, 1867, and the tax of 3%
being levied on December 18, 1867.
He was nominated for the office of
County Treasurer in 1871, and was thought to be elected, but this could note be
proven, because the ""Big Chicago Fire" broke out at that time, and the ballots
were burned.
In the fall of 1875 he was awarded the
contract for building the foundation and sub-basement of the Chicago Court
House, which he finished in a highly satisfactory manner in 1876. It might be of
interest to know that the wooden piles used in this foundation came from Niles
Center.
He was the first Postmaster at Niles
Center (being appointed in 1864, and retaining the position for about twelve
years) and the founder of three school districts east of the river. He had a
store in Niles Center for six years and was a stock-older in the Chicago,
Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad. The drainage of Niles Township and the
construction of nearly all the public works were conducted under his
supervision.
He built the first electric road in
the country in Cincinnati, and he owned and operated the Galesburg and Great
Eastern Railroad, which ran from Victoria to Wataga and Etherly, Illinois,
connecting with the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad.
At one time he owned over one thousand
acres of Cook County real estate.
Mr. Harms died on March first, 1914,
at the age of eighty-seven years - - his name going down in history as one of
the real pioneers of Niles Center.
Time is rapidly sweeping from the
scene of action the pioneers of our country. Even the recollection of their busy
life would soon be a thing of the past, were no attempt made to perpetuate the
history of this noble and worthy race of men and women.
The pioneers, without murmur, suffered
privations and difficulties in the early settlement of this country. By their
energy, bravery, and sound practical sense they have paved the way for the
present enjoyment of our modern conveniences.
Compiled from data procured from
histories and records of Cook County and Niles Township.
Mrs. Ida Harms and Mrs. Edward H. Harms
Not Dated
Back to Family
Index
|