Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Nicolaus, William A 1861 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 10, 2007, 3:12 am Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890 WILLIAM A. NICOLAUS. Among the enterprising firms of the city of Joliet, none are more so than that of Nachbour & Nicolaus. Young in years, its members have thoroughly imbibed the spirit of progress characteristic of the age, and furnish models of what may be accomplished by persistent effort and close application to business. Their dry-goods establishment, occupying the lower floor of the Barber building, (the best in the city), is a model in systematic arrangement, completeness in everything which goes to make such an establishment first class, and would reflect credit upon the efforts of dealers in much larger cities. The success of the young men is in many respects phenomenal. From an humble beginning they have steadily advanced to the management of a large and constantly increasing business. The subject of this sketch was born in Muscatine County, Iowa, December 23, 1861. His father, Henry J. Nicolaus, a grain dealer, possessed systematic business habits which were imparted to his children. He died November 4, 1872. His widow now lives in Wilton, surrounded by her children with the exception of the subject of this sketch, having three sons and one daughter near her. She bore the maiden name of Margaret Frenzel, indicative of the German origin of her ancestors. The boyhood of our subject was passed in the quiet of home life until he reached the age of fourteen years, when he began laying the foundation for his future success, by becoming a clerk in a dry-goods establishment where he remained six years. At the expiration of this time, young Nicolaus visited Chicago looking for a suitable location, and from that city came to Joliet in September, 1883. Engaging as clerk with a firm here, he acted in that capacity unlil the following January, when he became a partner in the business, the firm name being changed to Nachbour & Nicolaus, under which the business is still conducted. Mr. Nicolaus takes great interest in everything calculated to promote the welfare and prosperity of the city and the country contiguous thereto. He and his partner take just pride in owning some of the best horses to be found in Northern Illinois. Mr. Nicolaus set up his own household on January 10, 1883, when he was united in marriage with Miss Louella L., daughter of L. L. Lane, of Muscatine, Iowa. This pleasing and intelligent lady invests their dwelling with the attributes of true home life, making of it the center of their social existence. Mr. and Mrs. Nicolaus are the happy parents of one child. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/nicolaus610gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 3.3 Kb