Month: July 2022

Copyright © 2022 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett

Two Sosman & Landis employees were listed as guests at a Chicago Commerce event in 1914. They were J. C. Johnson and Chas. H. Szcesney. At the time, Johnson was listed as the firm’s secretary. Szcesney likely worked in the office with Johnson.

Charles “Charlie” Herman Szcesney was the son of Frederick “Fritz” Sczesney and Emilie Zilke. Both were European immigrants who left their homeland to start a new life in America. Illinois marriage records list that Fredrich Sczesny and Emilie Zihlke were married in Chicago on June 5, 1886. Born on October 31, 1893, Charlie was one of five Szcesney children to grow up in Chicago. By the way, the spelling of their surname varies from Szcesney to Szcesny to Chesney.

The 1900 US Federal Census listed the Szcesney household as including:

Frederick (b. Aug 1855, head)

Amelia (b. June 1862, wife)

Martha (b. Feb 1887, daughter)

George (b. June 1889, son)

Emma (b. Aug 1891, daughter)

Charles (b. Oct 1892, son)

William (b. March 1898, son).

That year the Szcesney home was located at 527 Melrose, Chicago. I have uncovered very little about Szcesney’s childhood in Chicago. However, for geographical context, Melrose St. was located halfway between Lincoln Avenue and the Chicago River. In other words, they lived a little northwest of what we consider the Lincoln Park Neighborhood today.

A decade later, the Szcesneys were still located on the same street, but their address was listed as 1821 Melrose. Amazingly, this old home is still standing.

In 1910, the Szcesney household included Fred (57 yrs.), Emily (48 yrs.), George (20 yrs.), Emma (19 yrs.), Charles (16 yrs.), William (12 yrs.), Mamie (7 yrs.). Charlie was working as an office boy that year, with his father employed as a RR flagman and his eldest brother George as a machinist in the auto industry.

Sometime between 1910 and 1914, Charlie began working in the Sosman & Landis office. His time at the studio only lasted a few years though. Only his father, Frederick Sczesny was listed in the 1917 Chicago Directory, working as a gateman and living at 1821 Melrose St.  However, Charles Szcesney, was still listing Chicago as his home in 1918.

His WWI Draft Registration Card listed the home address of Charles Herman Sczesney as “Y.M.C.A. Chicago, Illinois.” At the time he was working as an accountant, listing “himself” as his employer. Szcesney’s physical appearance was described as medium height, medium build, brown hair and brown eyes.  By the end of 1918 he was living in to Boston, Massachusetts and working as an accountant. Szcesney remain an accountant for the rest of his life, and possibly worked as an accountant at Sosman & Landis. 

Szcesney continued to work as an accountant over the years, although he shifted from one industry to the next. When Szcesney moved east and married, he changed the spelling of his name from Szcesney to Chesney. His name change is understandable; “sz” really confuses Americans. I say this as my own name – Waszut – always makes people stop and wonder about the correct pronunciation. Changing your last name from Szcesney to Chesney simply helps people pronounce it correctly – shchez-nee.

It also changed his perceived nationality, making it sound a little more Norman, French in origin. This may have helped fit in with his future in-laws.

Charles Herman Chesney married to Bernadette “Blanche” P. Boucher (1893-1974) in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1923. Blanche was the only child born to French-Canadians Frank and Josie Boucher. The couple’s wedding was announced on September 5, 1923, in the “Fitchburg Daily Sentinel:

“Chesney-Boucher

Miss Bernadette Blanche Boucher 85 Holt street and Charles H. Chesney of Boston, were married Tuesday at Christ Episcopal church by Rev. Arthur J. Gammack, rector. They were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth O. C. Hill of Whalom and Mrs. Sarah Dyson of this city. Mrs. Chesney has been employed at the downtown bank of the Fitchburg Bank & Trust Co. and Mr. Chesney is a public accountant. Mr. and Mrs. Chesney will make their home at 380 Riverway Street, Boston.”

By 1930, the Chesneys relocated to New Jersey, settling in Teaneck. They would continue to live in the township for the remainder of their lives. For context, Teaneck is due east of Hackensack, just across the Hackensack River; an 8-minute drive. Chesney continued to work as a public accountant, now managing his own firm. In 1931, he was listed in the Hackensack Directory, doing much of his business there.

The 1940 US Federal Census listed Chesney as an accountant in the distilling industry, still living at the same address with Blanche.

His WWI Draft card from 1942 still listed Chesney’s address as 535 Wyndam Rd., Teaneck, New Jersey. That year he listed Brewster Aeronautical Corp., Long Island, as his employer.  I have uncovered very little about Chesney’s life after moving east.

Chesney passed away in 1958 at the age of 65 yrs. old. His obituary was published in “The Record” of Hackensack, New Jersey, on July 18, 1958 (page 4):

“CHESNEY – Charles H.  Suddenly on July 16, 1958, of 535 Wyndham Road. Teaneck. Beloved husband of Blanche Chesney, Devoted brother  of Martha Plourd, Mamie Harlquist and William Chesney, Service at the Volk Colonial Home, 789 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, Saturday, at 1 P.M. Interment George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.”

To be continued…

Copyright © 2022 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett

Sosman & Landis employee, J. C. Johnson, was listed as guest at a Chicago Commerce event in 1914.

That same year, the Chicago Directory listed Jos. C. Johnson as Secretary for the firm, indicating that Johnson’s first name was Joseph. In 1914, Johnson was living at 730 Waveland av. He was again listed as the secretary for the firm in 1915.

I have put off posting about Johnson for quite some time, despite jotting his name down  a few years ago. Trying to locate Johnson is like looking for a needle in a haystack. 

What I do know is that Johnson was already working at Sosman & Landis in 1913. On July 21 of that year, he placed the following want ad in the “Chicago Tribune”:

“For sale – or rent – Twelfth-st. Theatre, located on Twelfth-st., near Halsted-st. Seats 600. J. C. Johnson, 417 S. Clinton-st.” (page 17). 417 S. Clinton Street was the address for the main studio at Sosman & Landis. This suggests that Johnson was working in an administrative capacity at the studio that year. For context, in 1913, Sosman & Landis listed two business offices: 417 S. Clinton and 17 W 20^th. Johnson was working in the main studio building.

Although Johnson was listed as the firm’s secretary in 1914 and 1915, there is little else to go on. Did he solely work in an administrative capacity, or did he enter the theatre industry though a trade? If I were to assume that Johnson was a painter, he was one of several working in Chicago around the same time.

I have spent countless hours trying to track down the lives and careers of several Chicago-based J. C. Johnsons; each one a viable candidate who may have been employed at Sosman & Landis. The names include Joseph C. Johnson, James C. Johnson, and John C. Johnson – all working in the same region at the same time. This means that articles mentioning “scenic artist Johnson” or “J. C. Johnson, scenic artist,” could be any one of the them. To further complicate matters, if I look beyond Chicago, there are many, many more J. C. Johnsons working as scene painters on a variety of projects.

Although Johnson was secretary of a scenic studio firm it doesn’t mean he could paint. Such was the case with his predecessor at Sosman & Landis, David H. Hunt, a consummate salesman and theatrical manager.

Finally, it is extremely difficult to track down any individual without knowing an approximate age. I really am at a loss here and have to end my search for now, unless more information comes to light.

To be continued…

Copyright © 2022 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett

In 1922, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Henry Sieker passed away on the 7^th, all very sudden.”

Moses was referring to scenic artist, Henry Ernest Sieker (1886-1922). Sieker was only 36 yrs. when he passed away and I have yet to identify the cause, or any details surrounding his passing.

Henry was born on Feb. 10, 1886, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of five children born to German immigrants, Franz Sieker (1849-1890) and Katherine Kemper Sieker (1852-1901). His older siblings were Christian Fred Sieker (1876-1929), Helena C. Sieker Ford (1881-1916), Martin Sieker (1885-1931) and August F. Sieker (1887). None of the Sieker men lived very long lives. Henry’s father passed away when he was only four years old, buried at Woodland Cemetery there. By 1900, Henry enter the work force at the age of fifteen and was working as a messenger boy. He and three of his brothers were living with his  three of his mother at 29 Lufkin St. in Cleveland, Ohio.

Shortly after this, Henry and his youngest brother, Martin, relocated to Chicago, where they continued living together.

It remains unclear, as to when Sieker began to work as a scenic artist at Sosman & Landis. It is possible that he began as most, between the ages of 16 and 17 yrs. Old.

In Chicago, he married Nattley “Natty” Baselski (also spelled Bazelski and Buselski in records), the daughter of Polish immigrants Mathias Baselski (1843-1901) and Johanna Grostowski (1851-1928). Nattley was one of four children: her siblings being Stacia, Ronette and Peter. Henry and Nattley were the same age, both born in 1886. They celebrated the birth of their only when they were 23 yrs. old. Irene Florence Sieker was born on Nov. 19, 1909.

The 1910 US Federal Census listed Siecker as a scenic artist in the scenic studio profession, likely at Sosman & Landis. At the time, he was still living with his brother, Martin who worked as a candy maker in a candy factory. At the time, their home was located at as 2222 Sacramento Ave. in Chicago. The Sieker household included Henry E. (24 years), Nattley (23 years), Irene (5 months) and Martin (25 yrs.), Henry’s brother (25).

Sieker did not consistently appear in the Chicago Directory. However, in 1913, his address was listed at 4010 W. 21^st St. This remained his address for the next five years. He listed it again in 1918 when he registered for WWI Draft. His draft registration listed his occupation as a sign painter, now working at Sosman & Landis, 417 S. Clinton St. In 1918 Sieker was described as tall, with a medium build, blue eyes and blond hair.

A few years later, the 1920 US Federal Census listed Sieker’s home address on the same street in Chicago. His household still included, Nattley, Irene, and Martin.  His brother Martin was now working as a grocer and butcher.

Sieker passed at the age of 36 yrs. old on July 7, 1922. At the time, his address was listed as 4023 W 21 St., just a few doors up the street from where he lived in 1920. He was buried on July 10, 1922 at Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum in River Grove, Illinois. I not yet located any details or cause of death. River Grove is on the outskirts of Chicago, just northeast of Oak Park where Thomas G. Moses lived at the time. When Sieker passed away, his daughter was only eleven years old. He never saw his daughter grown into a young woman or get married

By the time the next US Federal Census was taken, Sieker’s wife and daughter were still living in Chicago, still on W. 21^st St., now 4026. Nattley was working as a seamstress, and Irene as a switchboard operator. The following year, Irene married Walter Hasselbring and moved to Fountain Creek, Illinois. For geographical context, Fountain Creek is approximately 40 miles due south of St. Louis, Missouri. Nattley also moved to Fountain Creek with her daughter. The1940 US Federal Census recorded the Hasselbring household as including Walter Sr. (38 yrs.), Irene (30 yrs.), Walter Jr. (7 yrs.), and Nattley (53 yrs.). In Fountain Creek, Walter Sr. worked as a blacksmith.

The Hasselbring family expanded, and the 1950 census included: is living with Irene (40 yrs.), Walter Sr. (48 yrs.), Walter Jr. (17 yrs.), LeRoy (9 yrs.), and Nattley (63 yrs.). Walter Sr. was now employed as an assistant manager in the oil and grain industry.

Sadly, Irene’s own husband also died quite young, only five years later. Irene, however, enjoy a very long life, living until the age of 81 yrs. old.

Here is Irene’s obituary:

“Irene E, Hasselbring, 81, Watseka, died at 3:20 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, 1991, at Watseka Healthcare Center, Watseka.

She was worn Nov. 19, 1909, in Chicago to Henry and Nattalie Sieker. She married Walter (Pete) Hasselbring in November 1931 in Watseka. He preceded her in death in April 1955.

She is survived by two sons, Walter (Duke) Hasselbring of Watseka and LeRoy Hasselbring of Bermuda; six grandsons: Chip of Danville, Robin, Skyler and Kenton, all of Watseka, Douglas of Champaign, and Timothy of Bermuda; two granddaughters, Julie Hasselbring of Watseka and Gretchen of Bermuda; and nine great grandchildren.

Mrs. Hasselbring was preceded in death by her parents.

She worked at the Variety & News for 15 years.

Funeral Services are 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Segur-Knapp Funeral Home, Watseka, with Rev. Hubert Lytle officiating. Burial will be in Amity Cemetery near Milford.

Visitation is from 9 a.m. to the time of the Service Saturday.

Memorials to be made to the Roberts Friendship Home.”

To be continued…