Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 5 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 9

John Luick, a respected resident of Milwaukee, who is approaching the eighty-second milestone on life's journey, was born April 5, 1840, in Niagara county, New York, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth Luick, who were natives of the city of Stuttgart, Wurttemberg, Germany. They came to America in 1825, settling near Niagara Falls, where the father engaged in farming until 1851. He then sold his property in the Empire state and removed to Milwaukee in the spring of that year. Here he purchased an immigrant house, which he conducted for several years until the structure was destroyed by fire, proving a total loss, as he had no insurance.

John Luick was a lad of but eleven years when the family came to Milwaukee and his education was acquired in the third ward school of this city but his opportunities in that direction were quite limited, for he was only twelve years of age when he began working, in order to provide for his own support. He entered the employ of Henry Miller to learn the confectionery trade and continued with him for about six years. He next worked for Henry George, making Christmas toys and continued in that connection until the spring of 1861. Scarcely had the smoke from Fort Sumter's guns cleared away when on the 16th of April of that year he enlisted for service in the Union army, joining Company H, First Wisconsin Infantry under Colonel Starkweather, his term of enlistment being in response to the first call for three months service. On the 21st of August he was mustered out and returned to Milwaukee. On account of ill health he did not reenlist.

A little later Mr. Luick went to New York city, where he obtained employment at his trade and there remained until the spring of 1864. In that year he obtained a position at Norfolk, Virginia, where he continued until April, 1865. He was in New York city at the time funeral services were there held for Abraham Lincoln.

Mr. Luick afterward returned to Milwaukee, where he was married in February, 1867, to Miss Monica Adler, a daughter of Philip and Maria Adler, who were natives of Germany and early pioneer settlers of Milwaukee. Mr. and Mrs. Luick became the parents of five children: John F., who has passed away; William F.; George F., also deceased; Maria Anna, the wife of Peter Hirshboeck of Milwaukee; and Henry C, deceased. The wife and mother departed this life in November, 1876, and Mr. Luick was married again in 1878, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth Hoff, a daughter of Stephen A. Hoff. They had a family of five children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are: Frank N.; Adolph J.; Catherine, now deceased; and Ida E., who is a graduate of the Marquette Law School and is an attorney of Milwaukee.

In the year of his first marriage Mr. Luick established business on his own account at No. 248 West Water street, there engaging in the manufacture of candy, cakes and ice cream. He remained at that location for six years and then sold out, after which he purchased a place on Milwaukee street and carried on business there for thirty years, or until 1903, when he retired. Through the intervening period of eighteen years he has enjoyed a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserved. His life was one of intense and well directed activity for many years and his enterprise and diligence brought to him the measure of success which now supplies him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. He was reared in the Catholic faith and is now a communicant of St. Mary's Catholic church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he proudly wears the little bronze button which proclaims him a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a veteran of the Civil war.