Theodore H. Prehn, a dealer in lumber and building materials,
conducting a prosperous and growing business in Bunker Hill, has long
been identified with industrial activities in this community, where he
holds rank among the substantial and well known business men. He was
born in this town on the 4th of August, 1870, a son of Henry and Rosina
(Gehring) Prehn, both natives of Germany, the former of Holstein and the
latter of Saxony. They were married, however, in the United States, the
father arriving in this country about 1850. He established his first
home in Bunker Hill township, Macoupin county, Illinois, and here
continued to reside until 1883, in which year he removed to Carlton,
Missouri, and there passed away in 1903. Ere leaving the fatherland he
had learned the tailor’s trade, which he followed until his arrival in
America, after which he engaged in contracting and building. He was very
successful in this line of activity, possessing much skill and ability,
and at the time of his death was the owner of a valuable estate. His
wife’s death occurred in 1901. They were the parents of eight children,
as follows: George, residing in Bunker Hill and serving as assessor of
this township; Charles T., of Bosworth, Missouri; Theodore H., of this
review; Rena, living in Bunker Hill; Emma, now deceased; and three who
passed away in infancy.
No event of special importance came to
vary the routine of life for Theodore H. Prehn during the period of his
boyhood and youth, which was spent in the acquirement of an education,
first in the common schools of Bunker Hill and later in the high school
of Carrollton, Missouri. He remained at home until attaining his
majority and at the age of twenty-two years returned to Bunker Hill,
here engaging in the contracting and building business for a number of
years. About eight years ago, however, he opened a yard and began
dealing in lumber and building materials, in which venture he has since
proved most successful. He possesses good business sense, keeps
thoroughly in touch with the lumber market so that he knows where and
when to buy to the best advantage and has gained for his enterprise a
representative patronage which is constantly increasing in volume and
importance, he owns the block which contains his lumber yard and upon
which he has a good dwelling, and is numbered among the substantial and
prosperous business men of Bunker Hill.
It was on the 21st of
November, 1894; that Mr. Prehn was united in marriage to Miss Anna
Meinecke, a daughter of F. A. and Anna (Dusold) Meinecke, the former a
native of Hanover and the latter of Lichtenfeldt, Germany. Her father
came to the United States in the early ’40s and made his way to
California where he prospected for gold for a time. Later he came to
Bunker Hill and here he passed away in 1890, his wife surviving him,
however, until 1907. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Prehn have been born four
children: Leslie Edward; Paul W., deceased; Francis J., and Theodore O.
All are at home.
Mr. Prehn gives his political support to the
republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have never
held attraction for him, preferring rather to concentrate his energies
and attention upon his business interests. He has made good use of
opportunities that have arisen and in their wise utilization has met
with a degree of prosperity which is at once creditable and substantial.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 633-634.
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