Numbered among the notable businessmen of Pekin’s “Gilded Age” was John William Nolte (1867-1935), a Pekin native who was the son of a German immigrant. Marrying into the local Herget business family, his first wife was Emma F. (Herget) Smith, widow of Conrad H. Smith and sister of Carl G. Herget who built the Herget Mansion at 420 Washington St.
Nolte began his business career at the age of 13 as an employee of the Smith family’s Pekin Plow Works. Afterward, he was a clerk in Abraham Fuld’s clothing store at 411 Court St. By 1887 Nolte had become the manager of the Pekin Steam Laundry Co., but after two years he moved to Lincoln, Illinois, to start his own steam laundry there. Then in 1892, Nolte returned to Pekin and became the owner of the Pekin Steam Laundry, located at 360 Elizabeth St. next door to Woodard’s Hotel. Nolte sold the steam laundry in 1899.
As one of the prominent businessmen in downtown Pekin, Nolte was an active member of the Tazewell Club as well as the Pekin Country Club. In 1901, also became secretary of the American Distilling Co. After Woodard’s Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1899, the Tazewell Hotel was built in its place, and Nolte eventually became the proprietor of the Tazewell.
Biographical sketches of Nolte’s life and career were included in both the Portrait & Biographical Record of Tazewell and Mason Counties (1894), pages 396, 399, as well as the 1905 History of Tazewell County, page 1053. Here is Nolte’s biography from the Portrait & Biographical Record:
JOHN W. NOLTE, proprietor of the Pekin Steam Laundry, is a widely known and prominent young business man, who was born in this city, March 19, 1867. He is the son of Justice (sic – Justus) C. Nolte, a native of Germany who when sixteen years of age came to America and located in St. Louis with his parents, where they died soon after of cholera. Their son was employed in teaming in the Mound City until coming to Delavan, this county, when he located on a farm on the prairie and was engaged in its cultivation until coming to Pekin some years later. While living in the city he was engaged in teaming on quite an extensive scale, but is living at the present time on a farm of eighty acres within the corporate limits of the city. His wife, before her marriage known as Miss Rosanna Davis, was born in New York City, and was married to Mr. Nolte in Pekin.
Of the four sons and one daughter comprised in the parental family, our subject is the eldest but one. He was reared in this city, attended the common schools until reaching his thirteenth year, when he found employment with the Pekin Plow Works, and for four years was in the finishing room. Later he was engaged as clerk for A. Fuld, a general clothing merchant in the city, and remained with him for about a twelvemonth. Then in 1887 he went to work for the Pekin Steam Laundry Company, with whom he continued as manager for two years, and at the end of that time went to Lincoln, this state, where he established a steam laundry, which he operated with great success until March, 1892.
Returning to this city in the above year, Mr. Nolte bought out the Pekin Steam Laundry, and in April of the following year he built his present brick building, which is 30×95 feet in dimensions and is located at No. 360 Elizabeth Street, opposite the court house. He is a practical, energetic and persevering young business man and has met with more than ordinary success in his undertaking. He uses modern methods in his laundry, which contains the latest improved machinery, thus enabling its proprietor to turn out first-class work. He gives employment to six people, and is proving himself worthy in every respect to be placed among the prominent business men represented in this volume.
Here follows Nolte’s biography from the 1905 Tazewell County history:
John William Nolte, Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager of the American Brewing Company at Pekin, since 1901, and one of the most experienced and progressive of the city’s native sons, was born March 19, 1867. His parents were Justus and Rosanna (Davis) Nolte, natives, respectively, of Germany and New York.
For a number of years Mr. Nolte’s fortunes were cast on his father’s farm in Tazewell County, and he received a practical education in the lower and high schools of Pekin, his first independent venture being as an employee of the Pekin Plow Company when he was fifteen years old. Three years later he assumed a clerkship in a clothing store for six months, and then became identified with a steam laundry, learning every detail of the business. In 1890 he removed to Lincoln, Ill., where he opened a laundry on his own responsibility, conducting the same with gratifying success until disposing of it in April. 1891. At that time he returned to Pekin and bought the Pekin Steam Laundry, which he sold in 1899.
In November, 1901, Mr. Nolte and his brother-in-law, Carl G. Herget, bought the property of the American Brewing Company of Pekin, when he assumed his present position as Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager of the concern. The brewery profits by certain advantages arising from want of competition and excellence of the products manufactured, and, as the only establishment of the kind in Pekin, has a trade extending over a large area of surrounding country. Under the new management the business has increased to double its previous extent, with every prospect of commending itself still more favorably to the purchasing public.
Mr. Nolte is eminently social in his tendencies, and is a member of the Tazewell Club and the Knights of Pythias, besides the Dramatic Order of Knights of Korassan (sic – Khorassan), Royal Circle and the Court of Honor. In politics, he is a Republican. On August 18, 1891, he married Mrs. Emma (Herget) Smith, widow of Conrad H. Smith, his wife being born January 7, 1857. By this union one child was born— John Elbert, October 3, 1892. By her first marriage Mrs. Nolte had two daughters: Minnie, the wife of William E. Van Ausdal, and Emma E.
Nolte lived to the age of 68, dying at his home at 1412 Park Ave. on the night of 16 July 1935. His obituary was published the next day on the front page of the Pekin Daily Times:
John W. Nolte, 68, Passes Away Last Evening at Nine
John W. Nolte, aged 68 years, proprietor of the Tazewell hotel, well known citizen whose entire life had been spent here and who for years had been prominent in the affairs of the community, died at his home, 1412 Park avenue last night at 9:25 o’clock. He had been in failing health for some time.
He was a son of Justus and Rosella Davis Nolte and was born in Pekin March 19, 1867. He was united in marriage Aug. 19, 1890 to Mrs. Emma Herget Smith, her death occurring Feb. 14, 1910. On Oct. 24, 1916 he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Conaghan.
He is survived by his widow, one son, J. Egbert (sic – Elbert) Nolte of Pekin, one foster daughter, Frances Irene Conaghan, a brother, Carl Nolte, and a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Clayton, Pekin. He had been in charge of the Tazewell hotel for the past 10 years and enjoyed a wide acquaintance and friendship. For a time Mr. Nolte was secretary and a stockholder in the American Brewing company, and later for a number of years was manager of the Pekin steam laundry.
He was a charter member of the Elks lodge, member of the country club, Tazewell and Crawfish clubs. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic church and of the Holy Name society of the church. The funeral will be held Friday morning at 9 o’clock at St. Joseph’s church, Rev. Father Faulstich conducting the services. Commitment will be in Lakeside cemetery.
The body was taken to Abts funeral home but late this afternoon will be taken to the house at 1412 Park avenue where friends may call.
