Tessville

Page 153 

Tessville was named after John Tess, who came here from Germany when he was twenty-eight.

Home of Frank Meier, Village President of Tessville

Frank Meier, president, was the village’s first president. His brother John was its first clerk. Both of these young men are progressive and were formerly associated in the florist business. Mr. Frank Meier is now in the real estate, while John carries on the other.

The town is only eleven miles from the Court House, the last census shows 365, the village citizens are mostly truck gardeners and florists, the German and the Luxembourger, who are figured in with the Germans.

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Advertisement for Frank Tess Carpenter and Builder

Advertisement for A. Linster Mason & Plaster Contractor

Advertisement for Tessville Garage

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Its south boundary is the Chicago line. When people come here they generally remain as residents.

Home of John Meier, Village Clerk, Tessville

When the proposed interurban railroad is completed, Tessville will have two miles of Lincoln Avenue frontage on that line.

Mr. Alphonse Linster, former village trustee and plaster contractor, is an owner of five valuable acres and a comfortable home. He was seventeen when he came from Luxembourg, saw a good place in Tessville and decided to locate. Mr. Linster is one of the substantial men of the town.

Fred Engstler, over at Lincoln and Devon Avenues, came from Rheinland, Germany, where the prosperous vineyards were before this battle-scarred war.

He has been here 24 years and is the son of Stephen and Wilhelmina (Hohffeld) Engstler. Mr. Engstler is in the saloon business and his doors are open to many in the extremely cold weather. Lincoln Avenue is a long bitter drive over the barren prairies in a winter blizzard.

“Nick” J. Bree, the young enterprising son of Leopold, treasurer of Tessville, is just starting in the auto repair and garage business at his father’s place, and has room to store 15 cars. Having had a good business college education, he is prepared for the public, whose patronage he solicits.

Mrs. Catherine Proesel, widow of John, came to Tessville during the Chicago fire. Joseph, her son, owns a popular picnic grove. He is an honorary member of the Associated Union of Steam Shovel Men, and enjoys a large acquaintance. After making a grand tour of the glorious West, he decided that Tessville looked good enough to him. He has remained ever since. The family hail from Bavaria, and "Old Capt.” Proesel, who was eight when he came, is still in the best of health, living near Ainslee and Irving Park Blvd.

The founder and organizer, John Tess, who died May 30, 1915, was one of the most public-spirited men and a strong factor in the German Lutheran Church of Niles Center. His doors were always open to receive and shelter the needy, so that anyone in trouble first remembered to call on him.

When this section was wooded, he bought ten acres for himself and became a farmer. He helped clear it for Amos Snell, the murdered "Toll Gate King” of the Milwaukee Avenue plank road. It will be remembered that Wm. Tascott never was caught.

His remaining family are: John, Sophie, Lena, Henry, Ricka (deceased), William, Charles, George, Frank. William and George have a modern store and market in Niles Center. Frank Tess, former trustee, carpenter, and builder, is a son of John Tess.

Officers of the Village of Tessville since organization,
November 6, 1911

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Advertisement for John C. Meier Florist

Advertisement for Joseph Webber Truck Grower

Advertisement for Kirchhoff & Neubarth Co. Wines, Liquors and Whiskies

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Page 158

Advertisement for Niles Center State Bank

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