Alexander County IL Archives Biographies.....Block, Henry December 25, 1841 - June 8, 1907
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Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois
Author: Edited by William Henry Perrin

HENRY BLOCK, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, Cairo, Ill., was 
born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 25th day of December, 1841.  His father, 
Fred Block, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1812, and the mother, Sophia 
Kramer, was born in the same kingdom in 1817.  They were married in their 
native country, where they resided until after the birth of their first 
child, when, in the spring of 1838, they came to the United States and 
settled in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Later, the family removed to Ripley County, 
Ind, where in 1852, the father died.  He had a family of twelve children, 
Henry being the third.  Mrs. Block was subsequently married to Peter 
Grossmann, to whom have been born four children.  She still survives and 
resides in Ripley County, Ind.  Henry received an ordinary German education 
in Indiana, and went to the trade of shoe-making in 1857, which he completed 
in two years, working at his shoe-bench until after the breaking-out of the 
war, when he was employed at Cincinnati, by the Government, in the 
manufacture of military saddles.  In 1867, he went to St. Louis, Mo., where 
he worked at his trade until 1870, coming that year to Cairo, Ill.  Here he 
worked in the shop of Fred Winterberg for about two and a half years, and 
for the next year and a half was again in St. Louis.  In April 1874, he 
opened a small shop in Cairo, situated on Eighth Street, between Washington 
and Commercial avenues.  By close application to work, he was able, in 
1868*, to invest in a small stock of ready made boots and shoes, to which he 
added as he was able.  By honorable dealing, he has succeeded fairly, and 
now, at 131 Commercial Avenue, he has a complete stock of goods, in 
connection with which he does an extensive custom business, employing three 
skilled workmen.  To say that Mr. Block has risen from the shoe bench to the 
proprietorship of a first class shoe store would only do him an injustice, 
as he has not abandoned his bench, but continues to superintend the 
manufacturing department and work at the bench when not otherwise engaged.
He was first married in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 24th of October, 1865, to 
Miss Louisa Kortgartner.  She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 10, 
1845, and died December 5, 1866, leaving one daughter, Louisa Block, born 
November 17th, 1866.  He was married to his present wife, Dena Stekhahn, 
August 6th, 1874.  She was born in Hanover, Germany, April 22nd, 1851.  Her 
parents, George and Eleanor Stekhahn, both natives of the kingdom of 
Hanover, Germany, came to the United States in 1867, and settled in Cairo, 
Ill, where the father died in October 1st, 1877.  He was by trade a wagon 
maker, and like each of the other surviving members of the family, was a 
faithful member of the Lutheran Church.  Was born in July 1812.   The mother 
was born September 20th, 1807, and now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Block.  
Mr. Block’s family comprises Alwena, born April 29th, 1875; Hermina, born 
October 28th, 1876; Anna, born June 4th, 1879; and Ludwig Block, born August 
19th, 1881.  Mr. Block is a member of the American Legion of Honor, and is 
in politics a Democrat.  Family residence is on Eighth Street, between 
Washington Avenue and Walnut Street.


Additional Comments:
History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois
Edited by William Henry Perrin
Chicago
O.L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, 183 Lake Street, 1883

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