Matz and Schramm Families - Person Sheet
NameOtto Herman Matz 
Birth8 Mar 1830, Berlin, Prussia, Germany
Death8 Apr 1919, Chicago, Illinois
OccupationArchitect - 1849 @ James Mortimer & Co., Hamburg. 1850 @ Selzer, New York City. 1855 Illinois Central RR, Chicago. 1857 Own firm on Dearborn St., Chicago.
EducationIn Berlin - Royal Technical School at age 15. Royal Friedrich Werder Gymnasium at age 11. Wolff’s elementary school at age 7.
ReligionReformed Lutheran Church (Confirmed at Dorothy Church in Berlin)
FatherJohann C. Matz (1800-1868)
MotherAugusta Frederica Dahman (1800-1880)
Spouses
Birth13 Dec 1838, Pulaski, Oswego County, New York
Death12/13 Nov 1911, Wyoming, New York
OccupationIn charge of music at mother’s school in Chicago in 1850s. Played violin and piano in later life.
ReligionIn Chicago, member of St. James Episcopal Church.
FatherHiram L. Lewis (1806-1870)
MotherMary Jane Gillespie (1814-1878)
Marriage26 Oct 1857, 267 Erie St., Chicago, Illinois
Notes for Otto Herman Matz
Left Berlin in April 1849 to avoid being drafted and went to the free city of Hamburg which was rebuilding from a major fire of 1842. Worked for a partly English architectural firm which had been set up after the fire, James Mortimer & Co.
Due to family concern about his sister’s recent elopement to America, Otto, on October 18, 1849, sailed from Hamburg to New York City on sailing ship, Benjamin Franklin, and was almost swept overboard during a storm during 80+ day trip.
Moved into three story brick home on Chambers Street across from New York City Hall belonging to Gustave Roesicke, a manufacturer of picture frames and gilt moulding, whose brothers in Berlin had provided letters of reccomendation to Otto. Worked for architect Selzer, who designed Academy of Music and Astor Library and later applied to him for a job in Chicago.
After a year he heard that his sister was on a farm in St. Louis and left to join her. All suffered from “fever and ague” on the farm, but escaped cholera in St. Louis. Health problems caused him to take a steamer up the Mississippi to Galena, where, running out of money, he stayed at a German boarding house and found work as a sign painter for Mr. Swift, father of future Chicago mayor, George B. Swift. Mr. Swift later moved to Chicago and sometimes worked on Otto’s projects.
Started working for the Galena City Engineer’s office and came into contact with Illinois Central survey and engineering crews who hired him in 1852. In April of 1854 he was assigned to headquarters in Chicago, a city of 50,000 people at that time. By the end of 1855, at the age of 25, he became chief architect for the railroad when his boss died. Following the completion of the major buildings, including the passenger terminal which was the largest building in Chicago at the time, he set up his own practice on Dearborn Street around 1857.
Was married in 1857 at 267 Erie Street, a family house he jointly built with his brother in law, Hiram Lewis.
Refers to his house on Erie Street, presumably #267, as location of gathering of group to found Philharmonic Society of Chicago in 1860.
Joined Army Engineers in July 1861 for Civil War, on staff of General U.S. Grant at Vicksburg, resigned near end of 1863.
April 1865, wife and son Herman went to Europe for 15 months.
Bought land on Oak Street in Chicago in 1866, built a house in 1867 which was destroyed by the Chicago fire in 1871. His office was also destroyed by the fire and he set up business in a wooden shack on a lot owned by a friend at LaSalle and Monroe Street. His Nixon Building at LaSalle and Monroe Streets was nearly completed, of fireproof construction, and survived the Chicago fire without major damage, bolstering his reputation for post fire projects. It was demollshed 22 years later for a new 13 story building.
Visited mother in Berlin, November 1873-April 1874.
New house built at 431 Oak Street in 1876.
July 1892 became architect for Cook County.
1880 Census Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
M. N. GRABLE Self M Male W 40 OH Clerk-Notion Store PA PA
Frances E. GRABLE Wife M Female W 40 OH Keeping House OH OH
Juliet GRABLE Dau S Female W 14 IL At Home OH OH
Lillia GRABLE Dau S Female W 11 IL At Home OH OH
Marion JOHNSON Other M Male W 50 OH Board-Trade NY NY
Nillia JOHNSON 1 Other M Female W 18 IL At Home NY NY
Otto MATZ Other M Male W 50 PRU Architect PRU PRU
Mary L. MATZ 2 Other M Female W 41 NY At Home NY NY
Herman L. MATZ 3 Other S Male W 21 IL Student PRU NY
Rudolph MATZ 4 Other S Male W 19 IL Student PRU NY
Evelyn MATZ 5 Other S Female W 17 IL At School PRU NY
KOHLER Other S Male W 26 STUDIGART Draftsman STUDIGART STUDIGART
Mary MORRISON Other S Female W 25 IA At Home OH OH
Alice CAMPBELL Other S Female W 25 CAN Shirtmaker IRE IRE
Maria ROONEY Other S Female W 25 CAN Dressmaker IRE IRE
Notes
1WIFE TO MARION
2WIFE TO OTTO
3SON TO OTTO
4SON TO OTTO
5DAU TO OTTO
Source Information:
Census Place Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Family History Library Film 1254199
NA Film Number T9-0199
Page Number 293B
1905 The Book of Chicagoans
MATZ, Otto Hermann, architect; b. Berlin, Prussia, Mar. 8, 1830; s. Johann C. and Augusta (Dahman) Matz; ed. Technical School, Berlin, Prussia; m. Chicago, Oct. 26, 1857, Mary E. Lewis; children: Hermann L. (vice- pres. S. S. KImbell Brick Co.). Rudolph (lawyer), Evelyn (principal Dearborn Seminary). Established as architect In Chicago, 1854; architect for the I. C. R. R. Co.. 1854-7; during Civil War served as engineer offlcer on the staffs of Gens. Fremont, Halleck and Grant. Architect for the School Board. 1869-71; Cook Co architect. 1892. Mem. Illinois Chapter, and fellow Am. Institute of Architects. Republican Lutheran. Mason; mem. Apollo Comman- dery. No. l, K. T. Office: 78 LaSalle St. Residence: 431 Oak St.
Due to family concern about his sister’s recent elopement to America, Otto, on October 18, 1849, sailed from Hamburg to New York City on sailing ship, Benjamin Franklin, and was almost swept overboard during a storm during 80+ day trip.
Moved into three story brick home on Chambers Street across from New York City Hall belonging to Gustave Roesicke, a manufacturer of picture frames and gilt moulding, whose brothers in Berlin had provided letters of reccomendation to Otto. Worked for architect Selzer, who designed Academy of Music and Astor Library and later applied to him for a job in Chicago.
After a year he heard that his sister was on a farm in St. Louis and left to join her. All suffered from “fever and ague” on the farm, but escaped cholera in St. Louis. Health problems caused him to take a steamer up the Mississippi to Galena, where, running out of money, he stayed at a German boarding house and found work as a sign painter for Mr. Swift, father of future Chicago mayor, George B. Swift. Mr. Swift later moved to Chicago and sometimes worked on Otto’s projects.
Started working for the Galena City Engineer’s office and came into contact with Illinois Central survey and engineering crews who hired him in 1852. In April of 1854 he was assigned to headquarters in Chicago, a city of 50,000 people at that time. By the end of 1855, at the age of 25, he became chief architect for the railroad when his boss died. Following the completion of the major buildings, including the passenger terminal which was the largest building in Chicago at the time, he set up his own practice on Dearborn Street around 1857.
Was married in 1857 at 267 Erie Street, a family house he jointly built with his brother in law, Hiram Lewis.
Refers to his house on Erie Street, presumably #267, as location of gathering of group to found Philharmonic Society of Chicago in 1860.
Joined Army Engineers in July 1861 for Civil War, on staff of General U.S. Grant at Vicksburg, resigned near end of 1863.
April 1865, wife and son Herman went to Europe for 15 months.
Bought land on Oak Street in Chicago in 1866, built a house in 1867 which was destroyed by the Chicago fire in 1871. His office was also destroyed by the fire and he set up business in a wooden shack on a lot owned by a friend at LaSalle and Monroe Street. His Nixon Building at LaSalle and Monroe Streets was nearly completed, of fireproof construction, and survived the Chicago fire without major damage, bolstering his reputation for post fire projects. It was demollshed 22 years later for a new 13 story building.
Visited mother in Berlin, November 1873-April 1874.
New house built at 431 Oak Street in 1876.
July 1892 became architect for Cook County.
1880 Census Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
M. N. GRABLE Self M Male W 40 OH Clerk-Notion Store PA PA
Frances E. GRABLE Wife M Female W 40 OH Keeping House OH OH
Juliet GRABLE Dau S Female W 14 IL At Home OH OH
Lillia GRABLE Dau S Female W 11 IL At Home OH OH
Marion JOHNSON Other M Male W 50 OH Board-Trade NY NY
Nillia JOHNSON 1 Other M Female W 18 IL At Home NY NY
Otto MATZ Other M Male W 50 PRU Architect PRU PRU
Mary L. MATZ 2 Other M Female W 41 NY At Home NY NY
Herman L. MATZ 3 Other S Male W 21 IL Student PRU NY
Rudolph MATZ 4 Other S Male W 19 IL Student PRU NY
Evelyn MATZ 5 Other S Female W 17 IL At School PRU NY
KOHLER Other S Male W 26 STUDIGART Draftsman STUDIGART STUDIGART
Mary MORRISON Other S Female W 25 IA At Home OH OH
Alice CAMPBELL Other S Female W 25 CAN Shirtmaker IRE IRE
Maria ROONEY Other S Female W 25 CAN Dressmaker IRE IRE
Notes
1WIFE TO MARION
2WIFE TO OTTO
3SON TO OTTO
4SON TO OTTO
5DAU TO OTTO
Source Information:
Census Place Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Family History Library Film 1254199
NA Film Number T9-0199
Page Number 293B
1905 The Book of Chicagoans
MATZ, Otto Hermann, architect; b. Berlin, Prussia, Mar. 8, 1830; s. Johann C. and Augusta (Dahman) Matz; ed. Technical School, Berlin, Prussia; m. Chicago, Oct. 26, 1857, Mary E. Lewis; children: Hermann L. (vice- pres. S. S. KImbell Brick Co.). Rudolph (lawyer), Evelyn (principal Dearborn Seminary). Established as architect In Chicago, 1854; architect for the I. C. R. R. Co.. 1854-7; during Civil War served as engineer offlcer on the staffs of Gens. Fremont, Halleck and Grant. Architect for the School Board. 1869-71; Cook Co architect. 1892. Mem. Illinois Chapter, and fellow Am. Institute of Architects. Republican Lutheran. Mason; mem. Apollo Comman- dery. No. l, K. T. Office: 78 LaSalle St. Residence: 431 Oak St.