Albertus Collmann, deceased. This gentleman was one of the most active business men of Freeport and was for many years engaged as a wholesale dealer in leaf tobacco, having his factory at the corner of Adams and Clay streets. He illustrated in his life and character most forcibly the best traits of his substantial German ancestry. He was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Nov. 27, 1828, and received a good education in the schools of his native town. He remained under the parental roof until reaching his majority, and then, desiring to better his condition, resolved to emigrate to the United States.

After reaching American shores Mr Collmann came directly to this county, and with the small amount of means which he possessed, purchased a tract of land in Silver Creek Township, and proceeded to cultivate it and to erect suitable farm buildings. He continued a member of the farming community until 1864, when, desirous of changing his location and occupation, he made arrangements to embark in the tobacco trade at Freeport. He purchased stock in the country around and shipped to the Eastern markets first, and as his business enlarged sent his goods across the Atlantic to the cities of Hamburg and Bremen. He was thus employed several years, during which time he accumulated a small fortune. In the meantime his value as a citizen and business man received due recognition and he became connected with many of the important interests of the city. He was a member of the banking firm of Hettinger, Collmann Bros. & Co., and was one of the Directors and stockholders of the German Insurance Company, which is now one of the solid institutions of Freeport. He had invested a large part of his surplus capital in real-estate in Iowa, and became the owner of several large farms, all under cultivation and of great value. His entire career was a forcible illustration of the self-made man, and of that which can be accomplished by steady perseverance and industry.

The wife of our subject ws in her girlhood Miss Henriette Janssen, a native of his own country, and a lady who possessed many excellent qualities. She was in all respects fitted to become the close friend and counselor of her husband, and was largely his assistant in his successes in life. They became the parents of six children, and their sons all occupy prominent and enviable positions, both in society and in the business world. The eldest, Frank, is a resident of Janesville, Wis., where he is engaged in the wholesale tobacco trade; Rosa G. is the wife of C. W. Rieger, cashier of the Salina County (Neb.) Bank; Onnie J. is President of the Central Nebraska Banking Company, at Broken Bow, Neb.; George W., also a banker, is a resident of DeWitt, Neb., and is President of the Salina County Bank; William E. and Alice remain at home with their mother.

Albertus Collmann departed this life at the family residence in Freeport, July 4, 1880, leaving a large estate embracing tracts of land in Grundy and Lyon Counties, Iowa, all in a good state of cultivation. He had erected an elegant residence in Freeport which is now occupied by his widow and the children who remain at home. The building is of brick, finely finished and furnished, and stands in the midst of beautifully ornamented grounds, surrounded by shade trees and choice shrubbery. The mother of Mrs Collmann resides with her and is now seventy-nine years of age, but is a hearty and happy old lady in the full enjoyment of all her faculties.

Contributed by Amy Robbins - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888)