Soldiers on motorcycle

This photo is of Linus Findeisen, Jr, who was stationed in Texas while serving in the military during World War I. Linus’ family, the Findeisens, were German immigrants to Southeast Chicago. Anna Nega and Linus Findeisen had emigrated from Germany in the 1880s and settled on the East Side at 10617 Mackinaw. They married in 1890 and had four sons. Linus Sr. at first worked in the steel mills. Later, he and his sons set themselves up as plasterers in a family business. The family was relatively prosperous and left behind a treasure trove of striking black and white photos of Southeast Chicago from the early 20th century. These included numerous family portraits as well as photographs of gatherings with neighbors, family vacations to neighboring states, and of a small pleasure boat the “Oro” that they used on local waterways. The photos also captured Linus Jr.’s experiences in military camps during World War I.

The Findeisen family photographs were donated by one of the founders of the Southeast Chicago Historical Society, Jim Fitzgibbons, a neighbor of a branch of the Findeisen family who lived on Avenue G.