Ludwig Herman Maass, one of the well-known, prosperous German-American farmers of South Ottawa township, LaSalle county, identified with this county since 1870, is a native of Prussia, Germany, born June 3, 1843, a son of Peter and Sophia (Schrader) Maass, who passed their entire lives in their native land. Ludwig H. attended school, according to the German custom, until he was fourteen, and was then put to a trade. He worked at his trade, that of tailor, until 1868, with the exception of time spent in the army. He served in the German army as a member of Gager Battalion, No. 2, Greifswald Pommern, for a period of twenty-two months, making an honorable record. In 1868 he sailed from Hamburg for New York, being eleven days in making the voyage, and from New York directed his way to Bourbon, Indiana, where he worked for six months. After that he spent some time in Chicago, and in 1870 came to LaSalle county, locating in Ottawa, where for ten years he worked for Fisk & Been, the leading tailors of that place, and five years for Mr. Steinmetz. At the end of this time he bought his farm, one hundred and forty-three acres of fine land, three miles and a half from Ottawa, well improved with good buildings, fences, etc., and conveniently arranged for successfully carrying on general farming.
Mr. Maass was married in Germany to Miss Maria Hannemann Jurgens, a daughter of Carl and Christena (Jurgens) Hannemann, natives of Germany. She was born November 8, 1844. Air. and Mrs. Maass are the parents of five children, namely: Alma, wife of Martin Oleson, of Marseilles, Illinois, who has three children, one son and two daughters; Bertha, the wife of William Schuette, of Brookfield, Illinois; Otto J., who is married, has one daughter and is engaged in farming in Fall River township, LaSalle county; and Hermann and Peter, at home.
Politically Mr. Maass is somewhat of an independent, but affiliates for the most part with the Democratic party. He favors education, religion and general reform, and has reared his family to occupy useful positions in society.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 183-184.
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