Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Daras, Alexandre 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com October 3, 2007, 2:52 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

ALEXANDRE DARAS, one of the enterprising business men of Joliet, was born in 
France June 9, 1863, a son of Joseph and Eugenia Daras, and one of three 
children. His father, who was born near Paris in 1834, was an expert worker in 
a plate glass factory in the town of St. Jobin, and continued there until his 
death, in 1871, at thirty-six years of age. The lady whom he married was born 
in Paris in 1840, and in girlhood learned the dressmaker's trade. During the 
French revolution she had a position as forelady in a large factory for the 
manufacturing of clothing for charity, the factory being supported by a 
brother of the Czar of Russia (the Czarovitch Dermadorf), and in it were 
manufactured hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of clothing, the 
dispensing of which was in charge of Mrs. Daras. Her husband was an  active 
spirit in the revolution of 1871, and served as an officer until he was killed 
in action. She survived him only three years. At the time of her death her 
son, Alexandre, was only eleven years of age. He was bound out by friends to 
learn the jeweler's trade. After an apprenticeship of four years he became 
proficient at the trade. For his skill he was awarded a bronze medal in an 
annual exposition, in which graduated apprentices were allowed to compete with 
a sample of their work.  Later he secured a position as valet to Comte de 
Brigot, with whom he traveled all over Europe; but after eighteen months he 
resigned the position and went to London, where he was employed as valet to a 
nobleman. On his return to Paris he secured a responsible position in the 
government theatre. While there he formed the acquaintance of many persons 
prominent throughout the nation and the world, including Prince de Medoff, 
Baron Hausman, the Prince of Orange, Alexandre Dumas, pere, and Hortense, the 
second wife of Napoleon III, from whom he received a personal letter, 
enclosing a picture of herself.

After resigning his position in the theatre Mr. Daras went to Monaca, thence 
to Italy, returning to Bordeaux, France, next going to London, and afterward 
returning to Paris. He then determined to come to America, a plan which he at 
once put into execution. On his arrival in New York his trunk was stolen from 
him, and he thus lost, not only his belongings, but his Parisian references. 
In spite of this misfortune he was successful in securing a position with Mr. 
Frendenthal, a wealthy gentleman, who owned a summer home at King's Bridge, N. 
Y. There he remained for a year. He was then united in marriage with Lena 
Christian, who was born in Switzerland in 1862, and came to America in 1881. 
She was a daughter of John Christian, who was a large landed proprietor and 
held a position as foreman in a dyeing establishment in Berne. In the spring 
of 1883 Mr. Daras came to Chicago and thence to Joliet, where he learned the 
painter's trade with Frank Hebert, and remained  with the same employer for 
fourteen years. He then opened a paint and wall-paper store at No. 122 
Jefferson street, where he has since built up a large business. He and his 
wife are the parents of three children: Henry A., at home; Louise, deceased; 
and Joseph A., at home.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900


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