FRANCIS A. HOFFMANN, FIRST PASTOR OF ST. PETER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS (Part Two)

Last week we met Pastor Francis A. Hoffman and followed him as a young man on his journey from Germany to Schaumburg. He accomplished a great deal and made quite a name for himself by the time he left his pastor position in 1851 at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. But, his life was about to get even bigger.

Calvin de Wolf. Photo credit to findagrave.com

That year he moved his family to Chicago where he began the study of law with Calvin de Wolf, who was an early prominent attorney in the city. Mr. Hoffmann was soon admitted to the bar and specialized in real estate, which was fortuitous given the land boom that was happening at the time.

Not letting any grass grow under his feet as stated by J.H.A Lacher in the June 1930 issue of The Wisconsin Magazine of History, Mr. Hoffmann “also conducted an insurance business and was later elected president of the Chicago board of underwriters.” By 1853, he had moved into political circles and was elected to the city council.

From there it was a jump into the banking business which he was engaged in from 1854 until 1862. In the 1854-55 Chicago City Directory, he is listed as “Banking and Exchange Office, 58 LaSalle Street” and his home is listed at 97 Ohio.

From the Chicago City Directory, 1854-55.

Shortly thereafter, he founded the banking house of Hoffmann, Gelpcke and Company, which he and Otto Gelpcke operated at 58 LaSalle, according to the 1857 Chicago City Directory.

J.H.A. Lacher also states that Mr. Hoffmann “published an annual trade review of Chicago” that highlighted the growth of commerce and industry in Chicago. Always thinking ahead, he sent “thousands of copies abroad for circulation in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.” Many of the people that this review must have attracted, likely found their way to Chicago and approached him when they arrived. His name, subsequently, became quite well known, both locally and internationally.

Not only did his business and the connections that he made propel him to greater heights but, so too, did his time on the Chicago city council. During that period the council was made up of six wards, with two councilmen elected from each ward. Mr. Hoffmann identified with the Democratic party but, with the issue of slavery coming to the forefront, he could no longer continue this connection.

Stephen A. Douglas

At a public meeting on February 8, 1854, with Democrat Stephen A. Douglas in attendance, things got out of hand after Douglas proposed a bill in Congress that would amend the Missouri Compromise of 1820. According to Professor Frank Irving Herriott of Drake University, as mentioned in the Wisconsin Magazine, Mr. Hoffmann stepped in to bring order to the crowd and “his apt and luminous quotations from the Book of Books and his telling voice gave him perfect mastery over the turbulent elements of the meeting.”

This event catapulted him into the political limelight and, two years later, in 1856, he was nominated by the new Republican party for the office of Lieutenant Governor. Unfortunately, according to Professor Herriott, his naturalization papers were not in complete order and he could not run.

Lieutenant Governor Francis A. Hoffmann. Photo credit to Wikipedia

However, two years later in 1860, having corrected the problem, he was duly nominated and ran on a ticket alongside Richard Yates for governor and Abraham Lincoln as president, “an unusual distinction” as J.H.A. Lacher stated. Interestingly, Lacher also reports that, “in that campaign he spoke effectively from start to finish in both German and English.”

This entry from the 1861 Chicago City Directory, casually mentions his position as Lieutenant Governor–and with Hoffmann & Gelpcke.

Moving in the same circles as Abraham Lincoln, Hoffmann was also opposed to slavery and was involved with the early years of the Civil War during his term in office. As part of his post, he also served as presiding officer of the Illinois Senate. In 1864, with great honor, he campaigned heavily for and served as one of the sixteen electors from Illinois who cast a vote for his friend, Mr. Lincoln.

Declining to run again, Hoffmann poured himself into the job that the Illinois Central Railroad had offered to him in 1862. Per J.H.A. Lacher, he served as the manager of their German Land Department or, as stated in the 1865 Chicago City Directory, Commissioner of the Foreign Land Department.

He used the money that he earned in this position to cover the failure of his banking company that “had invested heavily in Tennessee State bonds,” which “became worthless after the outbreak of the Civil War” according to J.H.A. Lacher. He kept this position until 1866 when he left to start another bank that eventually became the International Mutual Trust Co., as noted in the 1869 Chicago City Directory.

Given his gravitas in the banking community, when the Great Chicago Fire struck the city in 1871, he was made “chairman of the committee of bankers through whose efforts the banks were promptly reopened, thereby averting a panic. He was likewise prominently active in restoring Chicago’s necessary business establishments.” [Illinois Biographical Dictionary, 2008]

Unsurprisingly, his health began to decline, having dealt with so many major events, not to mention the assassination of his close friend, President Lincoln. As a result, he retired from business and politics. By 1872 he was no longer in the Chicago City Directory and had presumably moved full time to his home in Cottage Hill, Illinois–a town that later became the city of Elmhurst.

Cottage Hill home of Francis and Cynthia Hoffmann. Photo credit to Rennata Higgins.

At some point in the 1850s, it appeared the family had left the city of Chicago but there seems to be some confusion depending upon which documents are checked. The 1858 Chicago City Directory stated that their residence was Cottage Hill, shown in the photo above. Later city directories corroborate this.

This photo is from the 1862 Map of Du Page County that was produced by the Du Page County Surveyor.

The 1860 census places the family in Addison Township. And, actually, their family farm, known as “Eureka” as shown in the photo above, was in Addison Township–near Cottage Hill. Note the two images, both above and below, from the 1862 Map of Du Page County that clarify this detail. The location of the farm–and his designation as Lieutenant Governor–can barely be seen on the image below on the far right. The farm was located between Cottage Hill and Dunckley’s Grove, and east of both.

1862 Map of Du Page County that was produced by the Du Page County Surveyor

Interestingly, the 1870 census places them in Ward 10 of the City of Chicago. At that point in time, this ward was just west of the south branch of the Chicago River. In the census his profession is listed as bank president so, given his active life, this must have been their main residence and, as specified in the 1862 Map of Du Page County, they kept the farm as their summer residence and a place to get away.

The couple had six sons and one daughter as mentioned in Mr. Hoffmann’s obituaries and a family tree on FamilySearch. They were Luther Calvin (1844-1854), Francis Alexander. Jr. (born 1845-1925), Julius Theodore (born 1848-1935), Gustavus Adolphus (born 1850-1914), Max Gilbert (born 1855-1860), Anna Wilhelmina (born 1856-1860) and Gilbert Frederick (born 1862-1922.)

The first two sons were most likely born during the family’s time in Dunckley’s Grove. The next two were born during their years in Schaumburg Township. The next son and their only daughter could have been born in either Chicago or at their farm near Cottage Hill. Family papers state that their youngest son was definitely born at their farm in 1862.

The 1860 census erroneously labels Max as Maria. (Maybe the family called him Maxi and the census taker recorded it as such?) Luther, Max and Anna all died at a young age, after the family left Schaumburg Township. The other four lived to adulthood.

After retiring, J.H.A. Lacher states, “He now determined to spend the remainder of his allotted time in the country, far from the city’s turmoil and perplexities. To make sure of this, he did not retire to his country place in Du Page County, which had been his home and refuge for a number of years, and where some of his children were born and passed away. After looking about he found an ideal spot for his retirement in the Rock River Valley, a short distance north of Jefferson, Wisconsin. Here he purchased a large estate to which he removed in 1875, naming the fertile acres and shady woodland, ‘Riverside Farm…”

Riverside Farm near Jefferson, WI. Photo credit to Rennata Higgins.

There, Mr. Hoffmann embarked on his next career that allowed him to indulge in his longtime personal interests of agriculture and horticulture. Per J.H.A. Lacher, he made “weekly contributions to German newspapers and by writing books on these subjects.” He signed these articles with his pen name, “Hans Buschbauer.” His articles and subsequent books ran the gamut from poultry breeding to bee culture to horticulture.

The title page of a book by Francis Hoffmann or, as he is noted here by his pen name, “Hans Buschbauer.” The book is part of the library’s collection.

He was happily engaged in this occupation for the last 28 years of his life when, as J.H.A. Lacher states, he quietly passed away on January 23, 1903, “surrounded by his loving wife, children and grandchildren.” He and his wife, who died in 1908, are buried in Union Cemetery in Jefferson County, WI.

Photo credit to Pamela R. on findagrave.com

What a fascinating life Pastor Hoffmann led. From a young man born in Germany, to a teacher and pastor in the first Lutheran church in Schaumburg Township, to a successful businessman in Chicago, to a politician who served at a crucial time in our state’s and country’s history, to a retired agricultural writer in rural Wisconsin, he lived life to the fullest. Eighty years doesn’t seem like nearly enough to accomplish that much.

Jane Rozek
Local History Librarian
Schaumburg Township District Library
jrozek@stdl.org

THE SCHAUMBURG BANK

Schaumburg Bank. Photo credit to Mark Campbell

This extraordinary photo of the former Schaumburg Bank that once stood at the northeast corner of Schaumburg and Roselle Roads, came our way from Mark Campbell. Given its spooky composition, it seems this is the time of year when an entry would be most appropriate.

In April 1910, thirty local prominent citizens pooled $25,000 in capital stock to build and open a bank to serve the residents of Schaumburg Township and beyond. With this initial capital, they subsequently sold shares for $100.

William Busse. Photo credit to the Mount Prospect Historical Society

The cornerstone of Farmers Bank of Schaumburg–locally known as the Schaumburg Bank–was laid on May 15, 1910 in a ceremony presided over by Hermann Freise, one of the largest stockholders. Other speakers included William Busse, president of the Cook County Board, William J. Rathje, Vice President and Manager of the People’s Stock Yards State Bank and William Thiemann of Arlington Heights who was a former Illinois State Representative and Vice President of the Arlington Heights State Bank. [Cook County Herald; May 13, 1910]

According to an article in the DuPage County Register of May 20, 1910, a copper, zinc-lined box “about 5x6x10 inches was soldered in tight in presence of the audience and deposited in a cavity cut in the stone door case which was then hermetically sealed by a stone slab and cement where it will stay for ages after all the present generation have passed away.” The contents of the cornerstone contained the following: a Palatine Enterprise from May 13, 1910, a Chicago Tribune from May 14, 1910, a Chicago Journal from May 14, 1910, a Farm Journal, a History of the Town of Schaumburg 1850-1910, a history of the organization of the bank, a list of original stockholders, a Columbian half-dollar of 1903, silver coins current (1910), various business cards, and a list of township officials.”

Louis Menke and his crew

The same article stated that local contractor Louis Menke, who built his own Turret House across Schaumburg Road, was commissioned, at a cost of $7900, to “make the plans” and construct the bank.

“It is a substantial 2-story brick building, 25 ft. wide, 44 ft. long and 26 ft. high above foundation with 8 ft. basement and large, heavy walled vault inside. The outside walls are of light grey pressed brick with Bedford stone font, window and door sills and caps also stone cornicer [sic].”

Menke was already operating a bit behind schedule but the bank managed to open in record time on October 1, 1910. Amazingly enough, the first day’s deposits totaled nearly $21,000.

The officers of the bank were: John Fenz, President; Herman Lichthardt, Vice-President; Charles H. Patten, H. Oltendorf, William Scheunemann and Charles Quindel, Directors. Herman W. Freise served as the cashier and Willie Fenz was the assistant cashier and bookkeeper.

An ad in the Cook County Herald from December 8, 1910 stated that the bank had 1.) money to loan on real estate and other securities 2.) safe deposit boxes for rent 3.) home savings banks on hand and 4.) interest paid at the rate of 3 per cent on all savings accounts.

Despite the bank’s rural location, it was not without its problems. In 1914, four years after the bank opened, an embezzlement in the amount of $40,000 occurred that was conducted by Frank Henning, the assistant cashier.

Herman Freise. Photo credit to Norman Freise.

Fast forward another seven years and, in June 1921, an attempted robbery took place while Herman W. Freise, president of the Farmers’ Bank, was acting as teller. He was shot in the wrist but, because of his quick thinking, the robbery was foiled. W.C. Kreft, his head cashier, was away on vacation and Mr. Freise, along with Henry Doehl, a customer, were the only two in the bank. The robbers obtained no money and, moreover, left a dollar that they had tried to exchange for 20 nickels. [Cook County Herald; June 24, 1921]

After World War I, the bank also became the perfect spot for a plaque that honored all of the local men who served in the war. According to local resident, LaVonne (Thies) Presley, the plaque was 24 x 24 and hung on the west side of the bank, near the front door. Unfortunately, according to her, it was eventually stolen.

In 1920, the bank was reorganized from a partnership to a state bank and was renamed Farmer’s State Bank of Schaumburg with assets of $219,732.80.

In a statement to the Cook County Herald on March 27, 1925, William Fenz, bank president stated that, “Reports being circulated that the Farmers State Bank at Schaumburg is about to be sold are absolutely untrue and without foundation.” Two weeks later the bank was sold to the Amlings who also owned the Addison State Bank, Melrose Park State Bank, Bellwood State Bank and Maywood State Bank. Rudolph Amling, nephew of Albert F. Amling who was president of the bank, became head cashier.

Unfortunately, the bank did not fare well during the Great Depression. It managed to hold on for a few years but it was announced in the January 19, 1934 issue of the Arlington Heights Herald that “one of the smallest banks in the state” would close after three years of failing to “operate at a profit and its officials can see no prospect of improved business conditions that warrant the continuance of the bank.” The officials who made this announcement were: Herman Weiss, president; Fred W. Pfingsten, vice-president and Rudolph G. Amling, cashier. Directors were the three aforementioned men as well as William F. Boeger, William Collatz, Paul F. Amling and Herman Lichthardt.

The building stood vacant until Herman C. and Clara Hattendorf purchased it from the Amlings and moved their small general store from a brick building, further south on Roselle Road, into the former bank on March 1, 1940. They named it Hattendorf’s Grocery.

The grocery remained in place until 1955 when an October 6 issue of the Daily Herald mentions that Town Roofers of Mundelein began renting the lower floor of the store from the Hattendorfs.

Around 1963 the Ralph Kelley Paint Store moved into the building and this photo was fortunately captured. In an October 8, 1964 ad in The Herald, it stated that they had been in business for 40 years–presumably operating in other locations prior to this date.

A year or so later, the building housed the first real estate and lawyer’s office in the area. Hoffman Estates residents Gordon E. Kenney ran the brokerage firm, and John P. Kelley, the law firm. They sublet space to Thomas DeBruyne, a State Farm Insurance agent who, as stated in the March 11, 1975 issue of The Herald, purchased the property from Clara Hattendorf, allowing her to continue her residence on the second floor.

Unfortunately, this arrangement only lasted four years because the Cook County Highway Department followed through on their long awaited plans to widen Schaumburg Road to four lanes from Meacham to Barrington Roads. Not only was it necessary to do something about the bank building which was directly adjacent to the road, but the Schaumrose Inn and the former one-room schoolhouse also stood in the way of the proposed road expansion.

After some extended negotiations, the Highway Department acquired the bank building from Mr. DeBruyne around 1977 or 78. The Village of Schaumburg then purchased it from the Highway Department for $1 and, at a cost of $40,000, with the hope of preserving it, moved it to an empty lot bordering Town Square on Roselle Road on July 18, 1979.

The Schaumburg Bank on stilts. Note the Easy Street Pub in the background. Photo credit to Mark Campbell.

It was placed on stilts and according to a November 23, 1981 article in the Daily Herald, “a fire almost two years ago caused about $25,000 to the building.” This is an indication that the fire happened the same year that it was moved in 1979. The structure continued to sit for a few years and was likely demolished in 1982 or 83.

We often lose these historic structures to progress even though local officials, sympathetic to the cause, make many attempts to preserve them. Would that this local bank, designed and built by Schaumburg Township’s own Louis Menke, were still standing 112 years later in 2022. You do have to wonder–did anyone ever open the cornerstone to view the contents of that copper, zinc-lined box?

Jane Rozek
Local History Librarian
Schaumburg Township District Library
jrozek@stdl.org

THE BANK BUILDING THAT IS NO MORE

BMO Harris Bank on Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates. Photo credit to Jane Rozek.

Our guest contributor this week is Pat Barch, the Hoffman Estates Historian. This column originally appeared in the September/October 2022 issue of the Hoffman Estates Citizen, the village’s newsletter. The column appears here, courtesy of the Village of Hoffman Estates.

I knew eventually that the beautiful building was to be torn down, but when I saw the slow deliberate demolition begin, there was sadness in my heart. 

Each time I drove by the old Lincoln Federal Savings and Loan building, presently BMO Harris Bank, I’d slow down to see what progress had been made. It began on the inside. Through the tall windows you could see the tear down begin. As with all demolition work, I’m sure what could be salvaged was salvaged for reuse somewhere else. 

Then one day as I drove down Higgins Road, headed to the post office, the large piece of machinery with a wrecking ball was on the south side of the building, beginning its tedious work of taking down this graceful and stylish building.

Through my research at the Schaumburg Township District Library, I learned about the details of its beginning at 1400 N. Gannon Drive in Hoffman Estates. 

Lincoln Federal Saving and Loan of Berwyn made the announcement in 1973 that they would be opening a new branch in Hoffman Estates. Its postmodern style was designed by Godfrey L. Duke, an architect from Wheeling. Original plans were for two buildings but the plans were modified and it finally opened in June 1975.   

The graceful colonnades supporting the roof overhang were pre-cast concrete of white quartz aggregate. It had two round fountains near the entrance and eight drive in lanes.

The interior of the bank housed an automatic, 24 hour self- service post office, a welcome addition for the Hoffman Estates residents.  The vending machines offered stamped envelopes, stamps, postcards and weighing scales for packages. A convenient coin change machine was also available.

This has been a sad tear down of a lovely building. Our village changes each time we lose some of our early buildings.  I’m remembering our village hall on Gannon and Golf and the bowling alley on Higgins and Roselle.  

The tear down of the south end of Hoffman Plaza was very dramatic as it was not a complete tear down, but a redesign of the building that was built in 1959.  Hoffman Plaza now has the beautiful Burlington Store and Lofts.

Hopefully we’ll have new and exciting buildings to take the place of those that fell to the wrecking ball.

Pat Barch, Hoffman Estates Village Historian
eagle2064@comcast.net

A QUICK DISCOVERY OF THE THEATER GUILD AND LOCAL BARNS OF HOFFMAN ESTATES

Our guest contributor this week is Pat Barch, the Hoffman Estates Historian. This column originally appeared in the March 2021 issue of the Hoffman Estates Citizen, the village’s newsletter. The column appears here, courtesy of the Village of Hoffman Estates.

Hammerstein Barn on fire December 3, 1958. Photo credit to the Hoffman Estates Museum.

Some of the new residents who moved into Parcel A in 1956 formed a theater group called “The Theater Guild.” I talked with Jane Davey who was one of the original members. 

She said they had about 15 members and began with performances at Blackhawk School which was located on Illinois Boulevard, just north of Schaumburg Road. It was one of the first schools built in Hoffman Estates but was replaced by the Jack Hoffman School that was next to St. Hubert Church.  Blackhawk School was eventually torn down when Schaumburg Township, which took over the school when it closed, decided to build a new Township building on that same site. 

Jane told me that they then moved to the Vogelei Barn at Vogelei Park at the intersection of Golf and Higgins Road. Everything they needed was there–a very nice stage and accommodations for a nice size audience. 

When they began to dwindle to a smaller group, they again moved to the basement of the Schaumburg Township District Library when it was on Library Lane, just north of Schaumburg Road. It wasn’t long before they dismantled the group due to lack of interest and changing lives as more women were off to work and lives were busier.   

Peter John Farm. Photo credit to the Hoffman Estates Museum.

During all the years that I’ve lived in Hoffman Estates, (since 1965) I remember all the barns that were still on what farms that were left. One by one they were torn down. I recall Mr. Peter Johns barn on the south side of Higgins just west of the Busy Bee Car Wash. He sold vegetables & corn in the summer. 

The Steinmeyer  Barn and other out buildings were right off of the portion of old Higgins Road. St. Alexius Hospital purchased that property and I haven’t been back in there to see if it’s still standing.   

The Hammerstein Barns were used as our first kindergarten and dance hall.  That was before the village incorporated. The Homeowners Association held many activities in the biggest of the barns. Fire destroyed them on Dec. 3 1958. 

Sunderlage Barn. Photo credit to the Hoffman Estates Museum.

The Sunderlage House, owned by the Village of Hoffman Estates, had a barn that was used for storage but it was eventually torn down.

Vogelei Barn. Photo credit to Pat Barch, Hoffman Estates Historian.

The only barn that remains in the village is the Vogelei Barn at the intersection of Higgins and Golf Road. The original barn was built in 1916 the same time the house was built. The barn burned down and a new barn was built in 1937. 

The barn has been the home of the Teen Center for many years. My kids remember the movies and popcorn they enjoyed there. It is owned by the Hoffman Estates Park District and no longer has the stage the Guild Players performed on. 

They also no longer rent the barn for parties and get-togethers but they have completely renovated it for the teens. They use the pool and ping pong tables as well as a new e-game center and gymnastics on the second floor.  The fun at the barn goes on. 

It’s a great place for new kinds of performances, minus the Theater Guild.  We don’t have any kind of theater group in the village. It might be time to start a theater group, though, as soon as we can all come together again.

Pat Barch, Hoffman Estates Village Historian 
Eagle2064@comcast.com

SUBURBAN BANK OF HOFFMAN ESTATES: A STORY OF THE BUILDING

Our guest contributor this week is Pat Barch, the Hoffman Estates Historian. This column originally appeared in the February 2021 issue of the Hoffman Estates Citizen, the village’s newsletter. The column appears here, courtesy of the Village of Hoffman Estates.

As promised, this is part 2 of the opening of our first Suburban Bank of Hoffman Estates. In doing further research into the startup of our first bank, I’ve talked to several important resources. 

I spoke to Senator Peter Fitzgerald, son of Gerald F. Fitzgerald one of  the founders of our bank. He was kind enough to send a book on the history of the bank titled Suburban Bank Corp., Inc. 1961-1994. I also spoke with the widow of architect John A. Mayes who designed our unique 6-sided Suburban Bank of Hoffman Estates. 

The bank’s history book told of the unique design by Mayes as having striated, hand-hammered concrete walls.  I learned that Pepper Construction, a 90-year-old, family-owned company in Barrington, had built our bank. I’ve reached out to them to see if they also created  those concrete walls. I learned that concrete construction is a large part of their construction history.  Hopefully I’ll learn if they hand hammered those walls. Their records may not go back 50 years but I’m told that some of the oldest senior staff may remember. 

Mrs. John (Jack) A. Mayes told of her husband’s work with Suburban Bank Corp. She said that they had him design all of their 20 banks and 36 branches in the northwest and western suburbs. Mr. Mayes was licensed to build in 17 states and designed 1400 banks in his career. 

She said that his designs always gave a bank the option to expand if need be.  Our bank did just that when it added the drive-up banking area to one of the six sides on the north east section. 

I asked if he had received an award for our bank’s design but she said he had received so many awards during his architectural career she couldn’t answer that for me. Since then I’ve searched for an award for the bank. In the history book it stated that the bank was ”an award-winning landmark hexagon structure” but I’ve not found any information about any award for Suburban Bank of Hoffman Estates, architect John A. Mayes, or Pepper Construction.  

The new bank building opened in April of 1970 and a 10 day celebration included prizes such as a Motorola Quasar TV, clock radios and a phonograph (remember those).  One of the grand prizes was a “Swinger.” I don’t recall what this was.  Do you?

One of the most exciting days at the bank was on December 8, 1972.  Zsa Zsa Gabor visited the bank to promote a new line of synthetic diamonds. There was quite a crowd and perhaps her perfume lingers in the lobby to this day.    

Suburban Bank of Hoffman Estates did so well that it was able to pay a dividend in just its second year in business. Mr. Gerald F. Fitzgerald, president of our bank in 1970, was quoted in the June, 20, 1969 Arlington Heights Daily Herald saying “Hoffman Estates was the second largest city in the United States without a bank”.  Well we’ve had our own bank on Roselle Road in the Golf Center for 50 years now and how nice that it’s doing well.

Our first bank had Jack Hoffman, builder of Hoffman Estates, on the bank board and I also learned that Senator Peter Fitzgerald worked at our bank in 1978 when he was a young man. Suburban Bank Corp. merged with Harris Bankmont, Inc. in 1994. Now we’re BMO Harris Bank.

I’ll always remember the large maple leaf that was the bank’s logo.

 Pat Barch, Hoffman Estates Village Historian
eagle2064@comcast.net

SUBURBAN BANK OF HOFFMAN ESTATES OPENS IN 1969

Suburban Bank of Hoffman Estates, now BMO Harris Bank.

Our guest contributor this week is Pat Barch, the Hoffman Estates Historian.  This column originally appeared in the January 2021 issue of the Hoffman Estates Citizen, the village’s newsletter. The column appears here, courtesy of the Village of Hoffman Estates.

Dealing with our everyday business with our bank is quite easy today. With online banking many of us haven’t walked into our banks in awhile. I still like to visit with the people at my bank face to face and have formed friendships this way. They’re always there when I need them for any special business I need to take care of. 

In the early years of the village, we had no bank of our own. It wasn’t until December 11, 1968 that the State Banking Authority granted a permit to organize the Suburban Bank of Hoffman Estates in the Golf Rose Shopping Center, now Golf Center.

The organizers were: Benjamin C. Getzelman, Elgin; Charles E. Brown, Algonquin; Gerald F. Fitzgerald, Palatine; John R. Hughes, Palatine and Raymond A Fleming of Hoffman Estates.

The bank moved into a temporary location in a store front located in the then Golf Rose Shopping Center on the northwest corner of Golf and Roselle Roads. It opened its doors  at 9 a.m. Monday, June 23, 1969.

Hours were typical for banks back then, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Thursday, closed on Wednesday, with longer hours on Thursday nights when it stayed open till 8 p.m. Thursday night was the usual day that most stores stayed open into the evening.  On other nights businesses closed by 6 p.m. Bank hours on Saturday were from 9 a.m. till noon.  

The Suburban Bank of Hoffman Estates only did business in the store front for 10 months. 

The new bank building was ready for its grand opening.  Its design was unique in many ways. The bank was designed by Mayes, Williams and Partners architects. 

The six sided building made it one of a kind in the village. The front doors of this hexagonal shaped building didn’t face Roselle Road but towards the shopping center, welcoming everyone in and making it convenient to exit into the shopping area.  

One of the six sides of Suburban Bank of Hoffman Estates.

The plan was to have a building easily added onto as Hoffman Estates grew.  Three of the six sides had drive up windows. This allowed you the convenience of drive up banking with a personal touch. You drove right up to the drawer and window with a helpful bank teller there to talk to if need be, not to a far window where you couldn’t talk confidentially about your business transaction. Within its design was a small canopy over each drive up window.  As you drive past or visit the bank you can still see this design.

I’ll be writing more about our first bank that is now 50 years old in my February column.

Happy New Year with hopes that it will be better than 2020.

Pat Barch
Hoffman Estates Village Historian 
Eagle2064@comcast.net

IT STARTED AS LINCOLN FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN…

While in Minneapolis recently, we turned the corner and this building sprang into view–and it looked very familiar.

In doing a bit of research, I discovered that it was designed by Minoru Yamasaki for Northwestern National Life.  It opened in 1965 and was later known as the ReliaStar Building, followed by the ING 20 Washington and is now the Voya Financial 20 Washington building.  Mr. Yamasaki is well known for also designing the World Trade Center.

But, what struck me most is that it immediately reminded me of this building with its tall white arching colonnades on each side…

This building is today BMO Harris Bank at 1400 N. Gannon Drive in Hoffman Estates and is across from Hoffman Estates High School along Higgins Road.  It was originally built for Lincoln Federal Savings & Loan and designed by Godfrey L. Duke, a Wheeling architect.

Lincoln Federal was based in Berwyn in 1973 when they announced that they would be building a new branch on five acres of land, just north of the Hoffman Estates Village Hall.

It was originally a two building design, with the bank connecting to a six story commercial building via a one-story cultural mall.  Because the area was not zoned for such high buildings, it was necessary to pursue a variance.  However, the six story structure and the cultural mall were never completed.

The bank, though, opened in June 1975 and is postmodern in style like the Northwestern National Life building.  It came complete with “a pre-cast concrete colonnade of white quartz aggregate supporting a wide roof overhang.”  [The Daily Herald, May 23, 1974, Section 3]

There were also eight drive in lanes covered by illuminated glass dome canopies, community meeting rooms and beautiful round fountains gracing the exterior at the Higgins/Gannon corner of the building.  A berm was also created on the west side of the property to provide some separation with the adjacent housing.

In a nod to the ongoing struggle by Hoffman Estates officials to convince the U.S. Postal Service of the need for a post office, an automated, 24-hour self-service postal facility was opened in the building.  Vending machines for stamps, post cards, stamped envelopes, etc. were available as well as a coin change machine and scales for weighing packages.  (The village had another facility of this sort at 1001 N. Roselle Road in Hoffman Plaza.)  [The Herald, June 27, 1975, Section 1]

A few years later in 1980, Lincoln Federal changed from a federally chartered savings and loan to a state chartered savings and loan and took on the name of Land of Lincoln Savings and Loan Association.  They subsequently merged with Household Bank in 1989.  Household then merged with Harris Bank in the late 1990s.  The bank is currently part of the BMO Harris Bank operation.

The neat thing is that when District 211 redesigned the facades of their high schools a few years back, they took their cue for Hoffman Estates High School from the iconic structure across the street and created this:

Take a drive down Higgins and recognize the similarities.  It’s nice to honor the architects who designed these spaces–whether they’re in Minneapolis or Hoffman Estates!

Jane Rozek
Local History Librarian
Schaumburg Township District Library
jrozek@stdl.org

Thank you to Ginny Roncoli, Branch Manager of BMO Harris Bank, for assisting me in some of the details for this blog posting.  It is much appreciated.

THE TRIAL? DEFENSE BY A FAMOUS ATTORNEY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week the tale was told of Frank Henning, a bank teller at the Farmers Bank of Schaumburg, who confessed in a letter to bank stockholders, that he embezzled $40,000 to speculate in the stock market.  Hoping to earn it back, he escaped to New York City on New Year’s day but, within a couple of weeks, was tracked down by the Burns Detective Agency.  The year was 1914 and Mr. Henning would not stay in New York for long.

In fact, as reported in the Rock Island Argus on January 17, Governor Edward Dunne “issued a requisition for the return from New York city of Cashier Henning.”  By the 22nd, Henning was on his way back to Chicago to await his trial.  And the next time we hear of him?  It is the end of May.  And who has he hired as his attorney?  None other than a defense attorney named Clarence Darrow.

In his review in the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society of the book, In the Clutches of the Law:  Clarence Darrow’s Letters, John Lupton, Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, states that “Clarence Darrow is arguably the most famous attorney in American history… Darrow classified himself as a general practice attorney who had a substantial criminal caseload.”

And for this particular criminal case, the 57-year-old Darrow ingeniously supported his client by basing his defense on the fact that the Farmers Bank was a private institution and not legally incorporated. This would prove to be the crucial point in the trial.

In a cross examination by Mr. Darrow, one of the stockholders admitted the statement about the legal status of the bank was correct. In a May 28, 1914 article from the Chicago Tribune, it is mentioned that the stockholder also “admitted Henning was a partner and had an interest at the time he left.  Then Darrow made the startling announcement that Henning could not be touched under the law.  A partner cannot be found guilty of embezzling funds from a partner.  The state had ‘not a leg to stand on’ he asserted.”

Realizing Darrow was correct in this statement, W. W. Witty, the Assistant State’s Attorney, then proceeded to make an additional accusation, declaring Henning guilty of embezzlement of $835 in January 1911.  At this point in time,  Henning was a cashier but not yet a partner.  Darrow admitted this was correct, that Henning was not a partner, but there was yet another caveat–by law, the statute of limitations had already expired on such a charge.  The defense then moved that the “court direct a verdict of not guilty.”

In response, Judge McKinley, sustained this contention and took the case away from the jury and the court convened for the day.  On the following day, Thursday, May 28, 1914, Frank Henning walked out of the courtroom a free man.  Mr. Darrow had done his job.

Ten years later, in 1924, Mr. Darrow would rivet the world with his 12-hour long closing argument in the Leopold and Loeb trial.  One year later in 1925, Mr. Darrow’s defense of John Thomas Scopes in the Scopes Monkey trial would truly establish his worldwide fame in a trial that focused on the right to teach evolution in public schools.  Taking on cases such as Frank Henning vs. Farmers Bank of Schaumburg in 1914 was a step in his rise to legal greatness.

Farmers Bank of Schaumburg bounced back from the embezzlement and even survived an attempted robbery in 1921 when Herman Freise, president of the bank, personally thwarted the robbers.  It would not outlast the Great Depression though, and eventually closed in 1933.  Very few banks were immune during those harrowing years, and private banks and the banking system as a whole struggled.  New regulations and protective practices such as the FDIC were put in place to protect both the institution and the investors.  Unfortunately, it was a little too late for a small bank in Schaumburg Township.

Jane Rozek
Local History Librarian
Schaumburg Township District Library

I discovered this incident serendipitously as I do with a number of pieces of our history.  I was doing a brief search of the University of Illinois’ Digital Newspaper Collections and stumbled across mentions of the trial in a newspaper called The Day Book.  This was a newspaper that was published between 1911 and 1917 in Chicago–fortuitously for us.  It was designed as an experimental, ad-free daily and begun by E. W. Scripps, founder of both the media conglomerate by the same name and the United Press.  Mentions of the trial were brief but enough to pique my interest.  It wasn’t until I dug deeper into the Chicago Tribune’s database that I discovered the wonderful details about Clarence Darrow.  All of the articles used to write this blog posting are listed below:

 

• Chicago Daily Tribune.  January 4, 1914

• Chicago Daily Tribune.  January 5, 1914

• Cook County Herald.  January 9, 1914

• Cook County Herald.  January 16, 1914

• Rock Island Argus.  January 17, 1914

• Chicago Daily Tribune.  January 22, 1914

• Chicago Daily Tribune.  May 28, 1914

• Cook County Herald.  May 29, 1914

• Chicago Daily Tribune.  May 29, 1914

• Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society; Volume 107, Number 2, Summer 2014; p. 243.

 

Jane Rozek
Local History Librarian
Schaumburg Township District Library
jrozek@stdl.org

 

 

THE CRIME? EMBEZZLEMENT

On Friday morning, January 2, 1914 the head cashier of the Farmers Bank of Schaumburg, walked through the bank’s front door and was greeted by a letter addressed to the directors.  Written by Frank Henning, the assistant cashier, the letter told the story of how he had embezzled $40,000 from the bank so that he might speculate in the stock market.  He’d lost all of it–every single penny–and he begged to please, give him a chance, and he’d repay it.  Then he left town leaving only the letter to answer for his crime.

The bank had opened in 1910 on the northeast corner of Schaumburg and Roselle Roads with a first day’s deposit of $21,000.  The bank was a source of pride for the hard working German farmers of Schaumburg Township who were pleased to have their own local institution to hold their savings.

Fast forward three years later and the 22 stockholders were holding a hurried meeting on Saturday, January 3, 1914 to discuss the details of the crime and figure a way to keep the bank solvent.  It seemed that Mr Henning, who had been with the bank since its beginning, left his home on New Year’s Day, telling his wife and 2 year-old daughter that he was going to attend a theatre party in Chicago that evening. Instead, he posted one letter to the bank and one to his wife confessing his crime.

The bank’s letter contained a $1000 bond and Mr. Henning’s $1000 certificate of stock in the bank.  It was all that was left of his tenure and he probably would have raised a red flag had he earlier tried to cash in the bond. He also left promissory notes made out to the stockholders that were due over a period of six months to five years in the future, with his guarantee that he would return the money.  In addition, he told them he was travelling to Omaha to begin working on that process.

In an immediate response, the stockholders raised the capital stock from $25,000 to $50,000 with each of them putting up close to $1500 to cover the loss.  They also hired a clerk from the First National Bank of Elgin to do an audit of the books.  Lastly, they hired the Burns Detective Agency, led by William J. Burns whose photo is shown below, to find Mr. Henning so that he might be brought to justice.  Warrants for his arrest were placed on the following Monday.  

His wife was just as upset and puzzled as the stockholders.  The family lived on the second floor of the bank and after the embezzlement returned to a nearby town to live with their immediate relatives.

Mr. Henning, however, wasn’t on the lam for long before he made a crucial mistake.  He sent a letter to a friend asking about his wife and daughter and must have included his whereabouts in the text.  Either the friend turned it over to his wife or to the Burns Detective Agency, because it didn’t take them long to determine that Mr. Henning was not in Omaha but in New York City.  By January 13 they had tracked him down in the Woolworth building [shown below] and taken him into custody.  

Shortly after, he spilled the whole story.  In an article from the Cook County Herald dated January 16, 1914, it states, “He talked freely with the detectives who took him—mainly talking about his wife.  He told them how he worked his way through a business college, worked in a country store and saved his money, and during the panic of 1907 speculated with his employer and made $1800.  He dabbled in stocks from then until he left Schaumburg and always lost.  Henning said he had an opportunity in 1910 to purchase stock in the Farmers bank of Schaumburg… He had no money, but borrowed $1000 from his father, an ironworker, and after buying an interest in the bank, became bookkeeper.  The money he had borrowed was all the savings of his father, and in the hope of paying it back he filled out signed drafts on the bank’s correspondents in Chicago.  With the money thus obtained, he resumed speculating in the Chicago stock market.  Henning said he always lost but by skillfully covering up his speculations he managed to avoid suspicion until late in last December.  Then he realized the game was up.”

In the same article he mentions how he arrived in New York with $2500 that he had on account with a Chicago broker.  Thinking he might get a law degree and make the money back more quickly, he talked to a number of law schools—including Fordham—and discovered that none of them “would graduate him in six months.”  Shortly after, the detectives tracked him down.

And this is where the story gets more interesting.  Next week we meet the gentleman who enters the scene and gives Schaumburg Township a small touch of early fame, albeit unasked for…   

Jane Rozek
Local History Librarian
Schaumburg Township District Library
jrozek@stdl.org