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Wilmettes 75th Anniversary 1872-1947September 18, 1947Niles Was Shores OnlyPost Office 111 Years AgoLater Mail Came ViaEvanston;t Wilmette GotOwWheinlm, ewttaes really the birthplace ofs post office.n Service in 1870* * *ABecause of Mr. McDanielss early as 1836, stage coachesservice to the village, it is easygoing from Chicago to Libertyvilleon what was known as the Milwau-Wto ilumnedteterstand how he becames first postmaster, re-kee Plank road, delivered mail toceiving his appointment some-Niles. Niles in those days, 111 yearstime in 1870 and serving untilago, was a small settlement known1889. About this time the postas "Dutchmans Point," because ofoffice was located in William H.the peculiar ending of the forestKinneys store which was situ-there where the trees tapered off inated at about the present en-density to a point.trance of the Odd Fellows hall.Later* * * a settler from Ohio by thename of Burrough built a tavern onMr. Kinney, Mr. McDaniels son-the east side of Ridge road justin-law, was appointed Wilmettesnorth of what later became Noyessecond postmaster in 1889; hestreet. Mr. Burrough appropriate-served until 1895.PATRIARCHly named his caravanserai "The OF SCHNEIDER CLAN- -Pictured above (center) withhiBuck-EyMax Mueller, owner of a grocerye Tavern" and the territorys eight stalwart sons is the late Joseph Schneider, one of old GrosssPointaround this inn became known ass true pioneers. Born in 1841, Joseph Schneider, accompaniedhiRidgevillWtoirlme etotn the northwest corner ofe avenue and Green Baye and later as Evanston.s parents to this area from Germany when but a small boy and was*road, became postmaster number * *for many years engaged in farming in the west section of the villagethree. A building was erected at the(see biography elsewhere in this issue).Northwestern university waspresent site of the Wilmette bicyclefounded in 1851, and inasmuchand sport shop for the exclusivuee ullseeas the university needed theof the post office, where Mr. MrShawn in the oldtime pictureidentity of a town Evanston wasconducted the business of postmasterabove are: standing, Joseph. Wil-incorporated. As a town it need-from 1895 to 1897.liam, John, and Frank: seated. Ed-ed to have a post office, so theMwaartdh.i sAnton. Joseph (senior),first one was opened in ColvinsWilmette* * *s fourth postmaster wass and Peter.store on Chicago avenue andThe elder Mr. and Mrs. SchneiderDaviSam S. Dingee, who served froms street.1897 to 1908. During his term, inalso were the parents of two daugh-* * *1897, the village emerged fromtMerrss, Mrs. Margaret Schaefgen, andTofourth class division to become a post a letter before Wilmette. Mary Thalmann. Pictured atcamethird class post office, and in 1901, into existence, early settlersthe side are Mrs. Katrina KeilSalong Green Bay road had to walkMcahrngeaidreer and the two daughters, IoMenateired the second class division.l carrier service was installedr go by horse and wagon to thet (left), and Mary (right).ThEvanstonin Wilmette in 1905. post office.e Schneider family, one of theWhen* * * Wilmette was platted andlargest relationships in the NorthShoresurveyedFrom 1908 to 1913, Edwin Dru- in 1869, Alexander McDan- area, is now in its fifth gen-ry was postmaster of Wilmetteerationi in this country.Weli lbmueitltt on the southeast corner ofeand during this time the office and Central avenues whatwaswas moved to a one story brick then considered a very preten-to America in 1843 in the same shipbuilding now occupied by Steph-Johnwithtious home with a white picket fence Mr. Schaefers parents. They Schaefefbecamearounde it. In this house, in addition the parents of seven chil-mnest tWool company, 1160 Wil-e avenue, where it operatedto his real estate business. Mr. Mc-dren, among them George W., whoAreasDanieuntil it was moved to the onel maintained an informal Firstwas later the proprietor of a hotelbranchstory building- just south of the post office. A slot in the wallIn Gross Point; Anna, who becamebecameEpiscopal church. the depository for mailWhitethe wife of Peter Huerter of Gro=-which would be gathered by anyoneW. E. Hess was appointed in 1913, ChildPoint; Katie, later the wife of Jo-seph Huerier. a Gross Point butcher:Mgoring to the Evanston post office.becoming postmaster number six,. McDaniel also had a rack withJohnpigeonand serving until 1922. Mr. Hess was holes in which to place the Schaefer, forbear of on?Christine, and Emma. Twin son-,ofmailfollowed by Joseph E. Schantz, who after it had been brought and Wilmettes largest families wasJohn P. and Joseph M., died inbornsortedtook over the postmasters duties for from Evanston. in Gross Point October 23,infancy. Mrs. Schaefer passed away1844, and is said to have been thein the late 70s.Mrthe next 13 years. It was during his. McDaniels real estate office.term of office that Wilmette becamefirst white child born in the Wil-metta first class post office.e area.MrEleven More Children* * *. Schaefer was again marriedThe son of Peter and Lena (Bles-In 1935, Herbert L. OConnell as-in 1880 to Miss Anna Spies, who waser) Schaefer, he resided here forsumed the office and during his ten-welborn in 1856, the daughter of Johnl over a half-century, witnessedandure, the government erected the fed- Margaret Spie=. natives nrthe phenomenal growth of the Chi-eral building which at presentcagoPrussia, Germany. Eleven children area and, according to a bio-houses the Wilmette post office.graphicawere born to this marriage, asl sketch written in the earlyThe present postmaster and ninthfollows:90s gave his "support to its worthyin number, Lea J. Orr, took officeenterprises."John and Evelyn, twins, who under Civil service examination anddied in infancy, Marie, John H. |Johnupon Presidential appointment in Schaefer was one of a fam-Peter J., Louis, Margaret M.,1944.ily of 13 children, prominent amongwhomHelen, Cecelia, William, and George was his brother, Maternus.The local office today has a regu-whoseIndustry Brings Prosperity biography appears elsewhereBylar staff of over 50 employees and dint of industry and energy,in this issue. His parents were bothdoes an annual business in sale ofbornJohn Schaeler raided himself from in Prussia, Germany, thepostage of $200,000, the largesthumble crcurnstarjces to a positionfather in 1805, and the mother inamount of sales in its almost 751812in whei, wroie a biographer, h". They emigrated to Americawayears of operation in the village.s " su-rounded by the comfort-in 1843 and took up their residenceand uxuries cf life." He built rin New Trier township where theytwo tory bi:!ct hotel (later operator!OLD TIMERSspent the remainder of their lives.Hiby his eldest son) and conductedsAmong the long-established busi- mother died in 1891 in her 79thyearbusiness there for 26 years, hi"ness houses along Ridge road are, and his father nassed awayhostelry ! : ing "noted for its hosn!B. E. Busscher, general merchan-in 1894, in his 90th year.talify . . and where "be becamedise, at No. 817; Whites GroceryKnew Hardships of Pioneera favorite with all who went h; and Market, No. 821; Paul Bleser,Rearedway." He was a staunch Republicanbarber, No. 729; Nicholas Bleser, to manhood on the oldhomesteadand member of the Catholic faith, son John Schaefer De-WPOiSlmTeMuApSTER Lea J, Orr isgrocer, No. 545; and Otto Kempe,s postmaster, the ninthcameshoe store, just north of Wilmette inured to all the hardshipsMi . Schaefer was for three yearsincumbent in that position. Pre-andavenue. trials of pioneer life. He re-town collector, served as school di-viously Mr. Orr was village clerkceived his meager education in therector for several years, and was fo^-(1925-1926 and 1928-1922). coii-district school.Oan extended period treasurer ofmander of the Wilmette post ofFORMER BANKMarng aArperil 30, 1868, he married MissGross Point, which position he as-the American Legion (1923-1924),The First National bank of Wil-t Lohn, a native of Chicago,sumed upon the organization of theand chief clerk of the Selectivemette, founded in 1916, closed its(born in 1847) whose parents camevillage. He also served as assessor.Service board.doors in 1932.