The condition of Conrad Ammann of Bloomington, who fell five weeks ago on the stairs In his home and broke his collar bone, is very much better. He is almost normal now and is very cheerful over his condition. Mr. Ammann is past ninety years old. Mr. and Mrs. William Ammann and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ammann of Decatur visited their father Sunday.
Decatur, IL Review July 18, 1922
Conrad Ammann one of Decatur's pioneer brick manufacturers died Tuesday evening at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Niedermeyer, in Bloomington with whom he had been living for the last five or six years. He would have been ninety-four years old in October. His death was due to the infirmities of age. He had been In failing health for some time, but had been confined to his bed for only two weeks. The body will be brought to the Moran & Sons funeral home in Decatur to await arrangements for the funeral, which will not be announced until a son in Texas is heard from. Mr Ammann was born in Ebingen, Wurtemberg Germany, Oct 10, 1831. He came to America in 1854 and about two years later came to Decatur where he resided ever since except for time spent in California and in Bloomington. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Elizabeth Beyers of Switzerland. Her death occurred in 1893. His second wife was Miss Margaret Osmer of Decatur. Her death occurred in 1903. Shortly after the death of his wife, Mr. Ammann went to Bloomington and made his home with his daughter and has been there ever since. He is survived by four children: Henry Ammann of Wichita Falls, Tx., William and Albert Ammann of Decatur, and Mrs. Anna Niedermeyer of Bloomington. He was a member of the Methodist church.Conrad Ammann made the trip to American on a sailing vessel and he first located in Canada where he worked on a railroad. The foreman was brutal and treated the men as though they were slaves so he quit that job and drifted south. For awhile he worked in Chicago, then St. Louis and finally landed in Decatur after being in this country about two years. In the meantime he had steamboating at $40 a month but he did not like it. Here he and the late Fred Mattes got work on a gravel train, the Illinois Central then being under construction. They worked together for a long time and became life long friends. They got ninety cents a day for eleven hours work on the gravel train. Finally Mr. Ammann went to work at a brick yard where the pay was $1.15 a day. But the brick yard closed down in the winter. However he found work in a packing house and his wages grew to $1.50 a day. He could get his meat at wholesale prices in retail quantities so he was able to save a little. In the summer he would work at the brick yard and in the winter at the packing house. Young Ammann was good at figures and the owners of the brickyard got him to audit their books. Thus he discovered that there was a profit of about 50 cents a thousand on the bricks he had been making. He suggested to Fred Mattes they start a brick yard,that making brick was mostly a matter of labor They had but little money but the late E O Smith owned six acres of clay land near the St. Louis bridge and was willing to sell it. He was willing to take half the purchase price of $100 an acre in brickand let them pay the remainder as they could. They bought the land and that was perhaps the first land to sell for $100 an acre in Macon county. The two of them had a total capital of $800. They invested this in the necessary machinery and soon had their brick yard in operation. The partnership continued until 1870. When they settled up, each had $3200. In the meantime, Mr. Ammann had bought and paid for a home. He continued in the brick business on his own hook. His boys were always a great help to him for they took their place in the brick yard as soon as they were old enough to work. Later Mr. Ammann added machinery to make field tile and he continued to manufacture both brick and tile for a number of years. Finally the factories began to spring up at every crossroad and he decided to quit. He was then 68 years old. He had accumulated enough to make him comfortable the remainder of his life. Conrad Ammann used to say that a young man who is willing to undergo the privations that faced him the first year in Decatur can accomplish what he had accomplished
While working at 90 cents a day, he had to pay $9 a barrel for flour, $2 a bushel for potatoes and other things in proportion. He admitted that good health had an important part in his success. It was seldom that he needed a doctor. Mr. Ammann was well known among the older resident of Decatur. He had a kind, genial dispostion. He was neatly dressed and scrupulously clean in his appearance.
Decatur, IL Review Wednesday August 19,1925
Decatur, IL Review July 18, 1922
Conrad Ammann one of Decatur's pioneer brick manufacturers died Tuesday evening at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Niedermeyer, in Bloomington with whom he had been living for the last five or six years. He would have been ninety-four years old in October. His death was due to the infirmities of age. He had been In failing health for some time, but had been confined to his bed for only two weeks. The body will be brought to the Moran & Sons funeral home in Decatur to await arrangements for the funeral, which will not be announced until a son in Texas is heard from. Mr Ammann was born in Ebingen, Wurtemberg Germany, Oct 10, 1831. He came to America in 1854 and about two years later came to Decatur where he resided ever since except for time spent in California and in Bloomington. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Elizabeth Beyers of Switzerland. Her death occurred in 1893. His second wife was Miss Margaret Osmer of Decatur. Her death occurred in 1903. Shortly after the death of his wife, Mr. Ammann went to Bloomington and made his home with his daughter and has been there ever since. He is survived by four children: Henry Ammann of Wichita Falls, Tx., William and Albert Ammann of Decatur, and Mrs. Anna Niedermeyer of Bloomington. He was a member of the Methodist church.Conrad Ammann made the trip to American on a sailing vessel and he first located in Canada where he worked on a railroad. The foreman was brutal and treated the men as though they were slaves so he quit that job and drifted south. For awhile he worked in Chicago, then St. Louis and finally landed in Decatur after being in this country about two years. In the meantime he had steamboating at $40 a month but he did not like it. Here he and the late Fred Mattes got work on a gravel train, the Illinois Central then being under construction. They worked together for a long time and became life long friends. They got ninety cents a day for eleven hours work on the gravel train. Finally Mr. Ammann went to work at a brick yard where the pay was $1.15 a day. But the brick yard closed down in the winter. However he found work in a packing house and his wages grew to $1.50 a day. He could get his meat at wholesale prices in retail quantities so he was able to save a little. In the summer he would work at the brick yard and in the winter at the packing house. Young Ammann was good at figures and the owners of the brickyard got him to audit their books. Thus he discovered that there was a profit of about 50 cents a thousand on the bricks he had been making. He suggested to Fred Mattes they start a brick yard,that making brick was mostly a matter of labor They had but little money but the late E O Smith owned six acres of clay land near the St. Louis bridge and was willing to sell it. He was willing to take half the purchase price of $100 an acre in brickand let them pay the remainder as they could. They bought the land and that was perhaps the first land to sell for $100 an acre in Macon county. The two of them had a total capital of $800. They invested this in the necessary machinery and soon had their brick yard in operation. The partnership continued until 1870. When they settled up, each had $3200. In the meantime, Mr. Ammann had bought and paid for a home. He continued in the brick business on his own hook. His boys were always a great help to him for they took their place in the brick yard as soon as they were old enough to work. Later Mr. Ammann added machinery to make field tile and he continued to manufacture both brick and tile for a number of years. Finally the factories began to spring up at every crossroad and he decided to quit. He was then 68 years old. He had accumulated enough to make him comfortable the remainder of his life. Conrad Ammann used to say that a young man who is willing to undergo the privations that faced him the first year in Decatur can accomplish what he had accomplished
While working at 90 cents a day, he had to pay $9 a barrel for flour, $2 a bushel for potatoes and other things in proportion. He admitted that good health had an important part in his success. It was seldom that he needed a doctor. Mr. Ammann was well known among the older resident of Decatur. He had a kind, genial dispostion. He was neatly dressed and scrupulously clean in his appearance.
Decatur, IL Review Wednesday August 19,1925
The condition of Conrad Ammann of Bloomington, who fell five weeks ago on the stairs In his home and broke his collar bone, is very much better. He is almost normal now and is very cheerful over his condition. Mr. Ammann is past ninety years old. Mr. and Mrs. William Ammann and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ammann of Decatur visited their father Sunday.
Decatur, IL Review July 18, 1922
Conrad Ammann one of Decatur's pioneer brick manufacturers died Tuesday evening at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Niedermeyer, in Bloomington with whom he had been living for the last five or six years. He would have been ninety-four years old in October. His death was due to the infirmities of age. He had been In failing health for some time, but had been confined to his bed for only two weeks. The body will be brought to the Moran & Sons funeral home in Decatur to await arrangements for the funeral, which will not be announced until a son in Texas is heard from. Mr Ammann was born in Ebingen, Wurtemberg Germany, Oct 10, 1831. He came to America in 1854 and about two years later came to Decatur where he resided ever since except for time spent in California and in Bloomington. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Elizabeth Beyers of Switzerland. Her death occurred in 1893. His second wife was Miss Margaret Osmer of Decatur. Her death occurred in 1903. Shortly after the death of his wife, Mr. Ammann went to Bloomington and made his home with his daughter and has been there ever since. He is survived by four children: Henry Ammann of Wichita Falls, Tx., William and Albert Ammann of Decatur, and Mrs. Anna Niedermeyer of Bloomington. He was a member of the Methodist church.Conrad Ammann made the trip to American on a sailing vessel and he first located in Canada where he worked on a railroad. The foreman was brutal and treated the men as though they were slaves so he quit that job and drifted south. For awhile he worked in Chicago, then St. Louis and finally landed in Decatur after being in this country about two years. In the meantime he had steamboating at $40 a month but he did not like it. Here he and the late Fred Mattes got work on a gravel train, the Illinois Central then being under construction. They worked together for a long time and became life long friends. They got ninety cents a day for eleven hours work on the gravel train. Finally Mr. Ammann went to work at a brick yard where the pay was $1.15 a day. But the brick yard closed down in the winter. However he found work in a packing house and his wages grew to $1.50 a day. He could get his meat at wholesale prices in retail quantities so he was able to save a little. In the summer he would work at the brick yard and in the winter at the packing house. Young Ammann was good at figures and the owners of the brickyard got him to audit their books. Thus he discovered that there was a profit of about 50 cents a thousand on the bricks he had been making. He suggested to Fred Mattes they start a brick yard,that making brick was mostly a matter of labor They had but little money but the late E O Smith owned six acres of clay land near the St. Louis bridge and was willing to sell it. He was willing to take half the purchase price of $100 an acre in brickand let them pay the remainder as they could. They bought the land and that was perhaps the first land to sell for $100 an acre in Macon county. The two of them had a total capital of $800. They invested this in the necessary machinery and soon had their brick yard in operation. The partnership continued until 1870. When they settled up, each had $3200. In the meantime, Mr. Ammann had bought and paid for a home. He continued in the brick business on his own hook. His boys were always a great help to him for they took their place in the brick yard as soon as they were old enough to work. Later Mr. Ammann added machinery to make field tile and he continued to manufacture both brick and tile for a number of years. Finally the factories began to spring up at every crossroad and he decided to quit. He was then 68 years old. He had accumulated enough to make him comfortable the remainder of his life. Conrad Ammann used to say that a young man who is willing to undergo the privations that faced him the first year in Decatur can accomplish what he had accomplished
While working at 90 cents a day, he had to pay $9 a barrel for flour, $2 a bushel for potatoes and other things in proportion. He admitted that good health had an important part in his success. It was seldom that he needed a doctor. Mr. Ammann was well known among the older resident of Decatur. He had a kind, genial dispostion. He was neatly dressed and scrupulously clean in his appearance.
Decatur, IL Review Wednesday August 19,1925
Decatur, IL Review July 18, 1922
Conrad Ammann one of Decatur's pioneer brick manufacturers died Tuesday evening at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Niedermeyer, in Bloomington with whom he had been living for the last five or six years. He would have been ninety-four years old in October. His death was due to the infirmities of age. He had been In failing health for some time, but had been confined to his bed for only two weeks. The body will be brought to the Moran & Sons funeral home in Decatur to await arrangements for the funeral, which will not be announced until a son in Texas is heard from. Mr Ammann was born in Ebingen, Wurtemberg Germany, Oct 10, 1831. He came to America in 1854 and about two years later came to Decatur where he resided ever since except for time spent in California and in Bloomington. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Elizabeth Beyers of Switzerland. Her death occurred in 1893. His second wife was Miss Margaret Osmer of Decatur. Her death occurred in 1903. Shortly after the death of his wife, Mr. Ammann went to Bloomington and made his home with his daughter and has been there ever since. He is survived by four children: Henry Ammann of Wichita Falls, Tx., William and Albert Ammann of Decatur, and Mrs. Anna Niedermeyer of Bloomington. He was a member of the Methodist church.Conrad Ammann made the trip to American on a sailing vessel and he first located in Canada where he worked on a railroad. The foreman was brutal and treated the men as though they were slaves so he quit that job and drifted south. For awhile he worked in Chicago, then St. Louis and finally landed in Decatur after being in this country about two years. In the meantime he had steamboating at $40 a month but he did not like it. Here he and the late Fred Mattes got work on a gravel train, the Illinois Central then being under construction. They worked together for a long time and became life long friends. They got ninety cents a day for eleven hours work on the gravel train. Finally Mr. Ammann went to work at a brick yard where the pay was $1.15 a day. But the brick yard closed down in the winter. However he found work in a packing house and his wages grew to $1.50 a day. He could get his meat at wholesale prices in retail quantities so he was able to save a little. In the summer he would work at the brick yard and in the winter at the packing house. Young Ammann was good at figures and the owners of the brickyard got him to audit their books. Thus he discovered that there was a profit of about 50 cents a thousand on the bricks he had been making. He suggested to Fred Mattes they start a brick yard,that making brick was mostly a matter of labor They had but little money but the late E O Smith owned six acres of clay land near the St. Louis bridge and was willing to sell it. He was willing to take half the purchase price of $100 an acre in brickand let them pay the remainder as they could. They bought the land and that was perhaps the first land to sell for $100 an acre in Macon county. The two of them had a total capital of $800. They invested this in the necessary machinery and soon had their brick yard in operation. The partnership continued until 1870. When they settled up, each had $3200. In the meantime, Mr. Ammann had bought and paid for a home. He continued in the brick business on his own hook. His boys were always a great help to him for they took their place in the brick yard as soon as they were old enough to work. Later Mr. Ammann added machinery to make field tile and he continued to manufacture both brick and tile for a number of years. Finally the factories began to spring up at every crossroad and he decided to quit. He was then 68 years old. He had accumulated enough to make him comfortable the remainder of his life. Conrad Ammann used to say that a young man who is willing to undergo the privations that faced him the first year in Decatur can accomplish what he had accomplished
While working at 90 cents a day, he had to pay $9 a barrel for flour, $2 a bushel for potatoes and other things in proportion. He admitted that good health had an important part in his success. It was seldom that he needed a doctor. Mr. Ammann was well known among the older resident of Decatur. He had a kind, genial dispostion. He was neatly dressed and scrupulously clean in his appearance.
Decatur, IL Review Wednesday August 19,1925
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