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Much of the information on this page is from a chart sent via email by the helpful and generous  Mary Utschig Read. She labeled it, "Information gathered from several people who are related to these families: Alice Erdmann, Raymond and DeAnn Meysing, David Jann, CA, David M. Jann, Marion Melsheimer Czachor, John H. Traut, and personal research. I hope I have not left anyone out--everyone has been very helpful and happy to share with one another. This chart has been put together by Mary Utschig Read. It is not complete, but the best that could be done with the information had by January 2007. Any corrections and/or additions are welcomed and hoped for so that the family's histories can become more complete and accurate. THANK YOU again for everyone's help in gathering the information so far collected."

Click on image to enlarge. Once enlarged, to zoom, move cursor to right of image, back onto image, and click again.

1905 wedding of Henry Pfleger--there are people in this crowd who look like Janns. Can anyone identify anyone?	Lou Pfleger's wedding. The 1st bridesmaid on left, seated, stood up with "Helen Jann's father" who died in California 1932. Perhaps John Herbert?	2nd shot, same wedding. Can anyone give the names of the groomsmen or the children?
4/1929 50th anniversary of Catherine Merten Bornhofen--see below photo galleries for link to view labeled version of this photo

To go to the labeled version of the 50th anniversary photo, click here: Bornhofen's 50th. There are many Jann family members in the shot.

1900 census, Chicago, Ward 30

Jann, John, age 34, born March 1866, married 12 years, machinist, born Germany of German parents

Wife Annie M, age 32, born Jan/June 1867, mother of 6, five living, born WI of German parents

Son Hobart J.J. age 11, born Feb 1889

Daughter Catherina G, age 8, born Feb. 1892

Son Edward J, age 6, born May (or might say Aug) 1894

Son Albert, age 4, born May 1896

Son Harry F, age 2, born May 1898

Englewood Times 6-12-1908: Jann--Catherine Jann died Wednesday morning at the home of her parents, Mr. & Mrs. J. Hubert Jann, 5653 Princeton ave., aged 7 years. Her funeral occurred Thursday, burial being at St. Mary's cemetery. (NOTE: something odd here, as their known daughter Kathryn survived to adulthood, but this can't be their granddaughter, surely, for son John Herbert/Hubert would've been 12 when this Catherine was born. Implies another daughter born 1901, whom the reporter confused with Kathryn or perhaps was named Maria Kathryn?)

Haven't found them in 1910

Draft registrations for his sons, 1917, all listing home address as 5657 Princeton Ave.

-Edward John Jann, born 5-18-1894, foreman in machine shop, single, medium height, slender, with gray eyes & dark brown hair

-Albert Charles Jann, born 5-20-1896, timekeeper for Chicago Surface Lines, medium height & build, dark gray eyes, med. brown hair

-Harry Christian Jann, born 5-19-1898, clerk for Pennsylvania RR, tall, medium build, brown eyes, light brown hair

-Frank Peter Jann, born 6-21-1900, Timekeeper for (illegible) Co., tall, medium, gray eyes, light hair

(Albert lists himself as support of mother, sister, and brother. Frank and Harry list next of kin Mrs. Mary Jann of 5647 Princeton.)

-Also registering but no longer living at home: John Hubert Jann, born 2-17-1889, of 5649 Laflin, clerk for Chicago Surface Lines, support of wife and two children. Previous service: private 1st infantry, 3 mos US Army, medium build, slender, blue eyes, brown hair.

Note that just down the street, at 5923 Princeton, must be her sister, Anna Gertrude Utschig Jann, for Leo, Herbert & Harry Jann all list that home address on their draft registration.

1920 census, Chicago, Ward 31

Jann, John, 53, widowed, born in WI of parents born in Germany

Son Albert, age 23, born in IL of parents born in WI, timekeeper for City Railway

Son Harry, age 21, timekeeper for Railroad

Son Frank, age 19, clerk for Railroad

Son Fred, age 17, laborer for Railroad

Daughter Julia, 16

Daughter Margaret, 14

(NOTE: I would say that it's supposed to be Mrs. John Jann, but marked male, but see 1930)

From the Merchants Telegram (Daily Southtown) 8-2-1923: Hubert Jann conducts a radio concert every Saturday night. The loud speaker planted on his rear porch provides many hours of music for the neighbors. (But which Hubert?)

From the Merchants Telegram (Daily Southtown) 10-11-1923: Mr. Jann is again traveling a la automobile, after making the trip to and from his place of business via Blair's express for the past month. (But which Mr. Jann?)

10-18-1923 article by Peter Kramer in the Merchants Telegram (Daily Southtown)

Northwest Englewood

(about the West Englewood Improvement Club)..."bringing the dangerous condition of the abandoned building at 57th and Wood sts. to the attention of the larger organizations in the city"  refers to a letter sent to the Illinois Society of Architects that said, in part, "we enclose herewith a report covering the inspection of the abandoned building.....Our vice -president, J.H. Jann, who made this inspection, is an engineer. According to his opinion the building is in a very dangerous condition and would require but very little shaking to displace some of the massive stone or iron girders with the possibility of most disastrous results...Children climb around on the structure and have fallen down, and in more than one instance there have been broken bones. Hold-up men and morons have used this building from which to attack their victims, and we understand that it is used for all sorts of immoral purposes..." (I don't know which J.H. Jann this refers to.)

1930 census, Chicago District 624

Jann, Mary, 63, widow, born in WI of parents born in Germany

Son Fred, age 28, born in IL of a father born in Germany and mother in WI, carpenter for city govt

Daughter Julia, age 26, stenographer for railroad office

Margaret, age 24, stenographer in railroad office

Southtown Economist newspaper 10-23-1940

Honor John Melsheimer

at Party on Birthday

Mrs. Kathryn Melsheimer, 5833 Shields ave., was hostess last week at a surprise birthday party held in honor of her brother-in-law, John Melsheimer. Among her guests were Mr. and Mrs. Louis Pfleger, 7429 Harvard ave, Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Huguelet, 5831 Wells st, Mrs. Mary Jann, 7927 Green st, and D.J. O'Dea of the Plaza Hotel. (note that Kathryn Melsheimer is the daughter of Johann Hubert & Maria Utschig Jann, who is probably the "Mrs. Mary Jann" of Green st, and Mrs. Louis Pfleger is Maria's niece, Gert Bornhofen Pfleger, daughter of her half-sister Catherine Merten Bornhofen.)