CONRAD HAMMERSCHMIDT FAMILY

Conrad Hammerschmidt arrived in Naperville Township in 1857.

He bought his first farm in 1860 in section21 in what is now Book road north of 75th Street and south of Aurora Road.

This farm was west of the H. (Herman?) Hammerschmidt farm on Aurora Road.

This Conrad Hammerschmidt farm was operated until 1989 when it was sold to a residential housing developer.

Conrad Hammerschmidt’s first marriage was to Ms. Emielia Dollinger in 1865. They had at least four (4) children – Frank, Ohilia, Reinhard, and a daughter who married a Mr. Wolfershein.

More info on the forgoing children is available from John W. Hammerschmidt, Lark Lane, Naperville, IL who is the son of OHO Hammerschmidt – Conrad Hammerschmidt’s son by his second wife.

Mrs. Emilia (Dollinger) Hammerschmidt died no later than c. 1883 and probably while living on the “New York Av.” Farm that the Hammerschmidt bought after the Book Road farm was sold. 

In approximately, c. 1867, Conrad and Emilia Hammerschmidt sold the farm on Book Road.

They then bought another farm on what is now New York Avenue west of IL. Route 59 – just north of the current Fox Valley Shopping Center. A photograph of this farm in the Hammerschmidt family history indicates that farm buildings were still in place at this farmstead in c. 1987.

However, it is unlikely that the buildings shown in the photograph were the same buildings that Conrad Hammerschmidt used when he operated this farm in c. 1867-1892.

The previous farm buildings were recently torn down in preparation for the building of new houses and the enlargement of shipping areas.

Conrad Hammerschmidt sold his “New York Avenue” farm in 1892. However, he and his first and second family lived on this farm only until c. 1884-1887 when they moved to 414 West Benton Avenue in Naperville, IL.

In the Portrait and Biographical record of Dupage County, IL, Conrad Hammerschmidt stated that he “was tiller of soil for more than fifteen (15) years” – actually more like 24-27 years (1820 –1884 to 1887). 

Family history relates that Conrad Hammerschmidt and his second (2) wife had their son OHO on the “New York Avenue” farm in 1884 and their daughter Louise in Naperville (414 West Benton Avenue) in 1887.

It is known that in 1885, Conrad Hammerschmidt did accept the position of business manager for the bi-weekly, German newspaper, Deutsche Warte, in Chicago.

Consequently, Conrad Hammerschmidt and his second (2) wife probably moved from the “New York Avenue” farm to 414 West Benton Avenue, Naperville, IL in c. 1884 or 1885.

Conrad Hammerschmidt’s brothers, Adolph (1827-1914) and Herman were also farmers in Naperville township during the latter half of the 1890’s.