Cemetery Walk Gives Glimpse into Lives of Palatine's Past

Those who took part at the Palatine Historical Society's Cemetery Walk at Hillside Cemetery Walk Sunday afternoon, were able to learn about a number of people who played a part in the early days of Palatine.

Actors dressed in period attire stood by their counterparts' gravestones in the cemetery at 375 N. Smith Street, and talked about their place in the village’s history.

Amanda Schoppe (played by Kathleen McCarty):

Born Amanda Horstman, she met Louis Schoppe from Palatine, and the two married in 1894. Schoppe’s father, Gerhard previously had a farm on Dundee Road, but decided to open Schoppe’s General Store with his son, at Slade and Brockway soon after the two had married. The store sold everything from household wares to food and other necessities. A turkey at that time sold for $1, a pair of shoes for $1.75 and baby carriages ran about 50 cents. Amanda’s early memories were of her husband handing out candy to children in the store, as well as a group of elder gentlemen who gathered around the pot belly stove to gossip about what was going on about town. The couple lived at 44 S. Plum Grove Road where the Jewel-Osco stands today, and after Louis died, Amanda lived out her days in the Plum Grove Nursing home and passed away in the 1970’s.

Henry Matthei (played by Frank Szuch):

Matthei’s family came to Chicago from Germany when he was just a young boy, and visited Palatine to see his sister, who was married to a local merchant. The sister of the merchant was Emma Sutherland, a member of one of Palatine’s original settler families. Matthei ended up marrying Emma, and they had three children; Anne, George and Philip. The family lived on Wood Street, and Matthei ended up serving on the local school board, was the postmaster for 16 years and was an active member of the Republican party. . His daughter Anne ended marrying a Brockway, whose family also had a long background in the history of Palatine.

Elisha Pratt (played by Neal Heatherly):

The Pratt family came to Palatine in 1840 from New York, and they owned a 160 acre farm and general store at Quentin and Baldwin roads off of what is now Northwest Highway. When the Palatine, Lake Zurich and Wauconda railroad was being built, Elisha Pratt wanted the depot to run through where his family property was, but he was beaten out by Joel Wood, another founding member of Palatine, who organized a number of investors and raised $10,000 to have the village’s first train depost positioned just south of where Lamplighters is today.  With a mind of being near the train depot, and expected new development around it, Pratt decided to purchase 80 acres of land in 1856 near what was then Chicago Avenue (Palatine Road today) and move his store there – which ended up being the very first store that opened in developing Palatine. Wood purchased the 80 acres of property just to the north of Pratt’s property and the downtown area began to flourish and grow.

Charlotte Holt (played by Margaret Plank):

In Palatine’s very early days in 1840, the Wilson family bought government land at Northwest Highway and Baldwin roads, and built a farm there.  Charlotte Wilson, ended up meeting and marrying George Holt, who was a Civil War soldier. He died when he was in his mid-20’s, but the two had one child. Charlotte brought her young girl with her to Palatine in the late 1880’s, where she opened a store on Brockway Street, and sold a wide selection of fabrics for ladies to fashion dresses with, in addition to the latest styles of hats and bonnets. Hair extensions at the time were the big rage, and women would wear their hats forward on the head, which was also very much in style.  Charlotte ended up moving back to Chicago for a time, but when she died, was buried in the Hillside Cemetery next to her husband George.

William Bockelman (played by Ken Gorham):

Before moving to Greeley Street in Palatine in 1906, the Bockelman family lived in Long Grove. William Bockelman’s father Henry had owned a store at Quentin Corners, but ended up working for - and ultimately buying Brockway’s Hardware store in the late 1920’s. William joined his father in the business, and married Mary Denevenn, whose family owned property at what was then called Kitty Corners at Rand and Dundee roads. In 1936, father and son decided to modernize the store, and held a grand re-opening, where prizes such as a new set of dishes, a table and chairs and a carpet sweeper were raffled off to loyal customes. Williams also was one of 18 volunteer firemen in Palatine. The crew was the only volunteer department in the northwest suburbs that had three fire engines and a five star fire rating.

Minnie Seip (Sherill Snyder):

Born Minnie Fink, she was the daughter of Conrad and Minnie, who owned a hotel and tavern on Slade Street in the mid 1850’s. Conrad ended up passing away, and Minnie’s mother ran the business until retiring in 1870. That is when Minnie and her new husband Charles Seip, took over the business and named it the Seip Hotel and Tavern. Charles tended to the tavern, while Minnie took care of the guests.  She was known for her fresh baked breads and pies. Back then, guests paid $3 a week to stay at the hotel, and $25 cents for three meals a day, which were served family style in the dining room of the hotel. In 1908, the tavern was closed, and the couple opened a dance hall. Once prohibition came, the business closed entirely in the 1920’s. 

If Palatine history interests you, check out a number of features from our Palatine: Present and Present series.