JOHN STOELZLE, one of the self-made men, who through industry,
enterprise and perseverance has worked his way upward from an humble
position to one of influence, is now a dealer in hardware in Murphysboro. He
was born in Belleville, Ill., December 17, 1857, and is a son of John
Stoelzle, a native of Germany, who on emigrating to America located in
Columbia, Ill., where he located a brewery and carried on business until his
death. He married Apolonia Kechn, who was also born in the Fatherland, and
after the death of Mr. Stoelzle, she became the wife of Henrv Kraus, who
carried on a machine shop in Evansville, Ill. In 1871 they came to
Murphysboro, and Mr. Kraus is now the oldest man in the Mt. Carbon shops of
the Grand Tower & Cairo Railroad.
Our subject was the only child of
the first marriage, but by the second union were born five children, all of
whom are yet living. At the age of five he accompanied his mother to
Evansville, and when a youth of thirteen came to Murphysboro. He began work
in the shops of the Mt. Carbon Coal & Mining Company, and continued as a
laborer until eighteen years of age, when he was made weighmaster and
timekeeper, holding these positions until 1881. He then returned and
embarked in business for himself as proprietor of a meat market on Chestnut
Street, where he carried on operations for two years. In 1883 he established
a hardware store on Chestnut Street on a small scale. His business, however,
constantly increased, and in 1892 he bought out the firm of Huthmacher &
Co., dealers in hardware. The same year he admitted to partnership his
brother, Henry Kraus, and they now carry on business under the firm name of
Stoelzle & Brother. They occupy the two floors and basement of a double
store, 35x60 feet. In the basement they have oils and paints, on the first
floor is their shelf and heavy hardware, stoves and tinware, and the second
floor is used as a storeroom for plows and stoves. They have the largest
hardware business in the city.
In 1883, in Murphysboro, was
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Stoelzle and Miss Christina Daniel, a native
of Belleville, Ill., and a daughter of Sebastian Daniel, who was formerly a
baker of Murphysboro, but is now deceased. They have three children, a son
and two daughters, John, Lizzie and Irene.
Mr. Stoelzle owns his own
home, which is a pleasant residence in the Second Ward. He has served as
School Director one term, and in politics is a supporter of the Republican
party. He holds membership with St. Andrew's Catholic Church. His honesty
and integrity are unquestioned, and good business ability and well directed
efforts have won him a merited success and placed him at the head of one of
the leading mercantile concerns of Murphysboro.
Extracted 28 Aug 2019 by Norma Hass from 1894 Biographical Review of Jackson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 580-581.