CHARLES A. GEHRMANN. Attention, method, and industry are the foundation stones of success in business. To those who labor faithfully, success almost invariably comes. The career of Mr. Gehrmann, viewed from a business or social standpoint, is worthy of record in a volume containing biographical reviews of prominent citizens of this county. Integrity of word and deed has been the corner stone of all his business transactions, and during his residence in Springfield, he has made many warm friends throughout the county and city. He is a member of the Board of Education, Knights Templar, and Knights of Pythias.

A native of Nordhausen, Germany, Mr. Gehrmann was born August 1, 1835, and in his native country passed his boyhood and youth, receiving an excellent education and thorough training for a business career by a clerkship in one of the leading dry goods houses of Potsdam, and subsequently at Herman Gorsen, Berlin, where the knowledge of the English and French language brought him in contact with the foreign custom of this large house, especially the trade of Russia. On one occasion, Mr. Gehrmann was the recipient of a fine gold watch from the congress of Russia, in acknowledgment of services rendered. Having a desire to see the world, he engaged to work for a London house, but upon arriving in Hamburg, changed his plans and contrary to the wishes of his parents, came to America. He spent some months very pleasantly in traveling and hunting, visiting some of the larger cities of the North, and finally locating in Springfield, which in its primitive condition and contracts to the large cities he had been visiting, attracted his attention and interest.

Unremitting labor, genial manners, and courteous dealing with all, soon brought popularity to the enterprising merchant, and for more than thirty years he has been considered one of the most prominent business men of Springfield. He opened his store under his own name in 1860. His store building is conveniently located on the west side of the Square, at No. 113 Fifth street. In connection with dry goods he also carries a large and complete stock of millinery, and by excellent management and good judgment has built up one of the leading trades in the city. He is a man of original ideas, well informed in all branches of industry and the arts, believes in the necessity of manufacturing goods at home, and advocates the training of home talent into industrial and productive work. For this reason he is an earnest advocate of manual training, which is now successfully introduced into the public schools of Springfield.

Mr. Gehrmann was united in marriage April 12, 1862, with Miss Minnie Jahnke, a resident of Springfield, and a native of Berlin, Germany. Mrs. Gehrmann was born June 23, 1844, and accompanied her parents to the United States when still quite young. She departed this life October 31, 1886, leaving five children, namely: Charles A., who is a professor of chemistry and mining engineer, owns and works several mines at Idaho Springs, Col.; Clara M., Adelia A., Ella and Paul M. Ella was married October 1, 1890, to B. H. Brainard, a young man well connected in business and society of Springfield. The family are members of the German Lutheran Church, and are highly esteemed in social circles. Mrs. Gehrmann was much beloved by all who knew her, being of a kind and loving disposition, and one of those faithful women whose chief pleasure in life consists in making home a place of comfort and peace for husband and children, and who have ever a kind word for the unfortunate, and a smile for those who are struggling against adverse circumstances. The mother of mrs. Gehrmann still survives and makes her home with Mr. Gehrmann.

The writer had the pleasure of visiting the home of Mr. Gehrmann, which comprises a tract of land seven acres in extent, laid out into a beautiful park, adorned with tropical plants and evergreens, some eighty feet high. The house is filled with choice paintings, many from his own hands or his children's, and also contains a large and complete library, and musical instruments, which seem to be used liberally. It is indeed a model home. Mr. Gehrmann has a brother, T. A. Gehrmann, who is a prominent business man in Chicago; also a cousin, C. Gehrmann, in Peoria. All belong to the Order of Knights Templar, and Mr. Gehrmann, his son Charles, and C. Gehrmann are members of the Board of Education in their respective towns.