Biography - Christian Siemens
CHRISTIAN SIEMENS. As a tribute to the worth, and character of the late Mr. Siemens, formerly one of Sorento's most influential citizens, we incorporate in the Record the following brief statement with reference to his life. He was born in Brunswick, Germany, October 30, 1822. In his native land he grew to manhood, thence in 1850 he emigrated to America, settling in St. Louis, where for some time he was successfully engaged in the butcher business. In 1859, Mr. Siemens came to Bond County and purchased land adjoining the present village of Sorento. A pushing, energetic man, thrifty and with excellent business qualifications, he accumulated a goodly amount of property, and at the time of his death, which occurred September 19, 1891, he left his family in comfortable circumstances. Shortly after he came to America, he was married to Mina Lohmann in St. Louis, Mo., a native of Hanover, Germany. Six children were born of the union, of whom only one now survives: Augusta, wife of John Buckhart, a wealthy and influential citizen of Sorento.
Herman Siemens, a son of our subject, is remembered as one of the most prominent of Bond County's young agriculturists and business men. For some years he was a lumber merchant at Sorento, and he also served for one year as bookkeeper for the Sorento Coal Company, of which his father was a stockholder. His fellow-citizens, appreciating the fact that he was a man of more than ordinary ability, called upon him to fill several offices of trust and responsibility, and he was an important factor in local politics. His death occurred January 24, 1891, at the age of thirty-two years. He was survived by his wife, who was formerly Miss Dora Gracey. Their children are: Robert, born September 7, 1887; Earle, born July 26, 1889, and a daughter now about eighteen months old. The members of the Siemens family have always been strong in their adherence to the doctrines of the German Lutheran Church, and are equally strong in their support of the principles of the Republican party.
Extracted 21 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 463-464.
