Biography - ADOLPH HAPKE
Adolph Hapke, the leading jeweler and optician and
one of the rising and successful young business men of Newman, was born in
the province of West Prussia, Germany. May 30, 1869, and is a son of Christ
and Christian (Schlack) Hapke, who were natives of the same province. His
father was a blacksmith by trade, who emigrated to this country in 1871 and
located in Michigan City, Laporte county, Indiana, where he followed his
trade and also engaged in farming. He resides at present four and one-half
miles east of Michigan City. He served in the war of Germany against Austria
in 1866.
Adolph Hapke received a common school education and at the age of seventeen
went to Michigan City, where he served an apprenticeship of four years at
his trade. In 1898 he located at Newman, having previously taken a course in
optics at the Chicago Ophthalmology College.
On October 11, 1899, he was married to Miss Josephine, a daughter of Enoch
Gordon, of Newman. After his marriage he purchased the residence of C. E.
Eagler, and it is one of the elegantly furnished homes of Newman. After his
marriage the Newman Independent spoke of him as follows: "Mr. Hapke came to
Newman about two years ago, and since then his dealings with our people have
been honorable, and he has formed ties of friendship that will always last.
The bride is one of Newman's most deserving young ladies, who was graduated
in the spring of 1899 from the high school of Newman with honors."
Mr. Hapke carries a large stock of jewelry, and by his honest and upright
mode of doing business has put himself on the road to building up a most
prosperous business.
Extracted 25 May 2019 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, pages 182-183.
