WAUKEGAN - THE NEW CHICAGO
John Razall was born a few days after Christmas 1850 in Danzig, Germany. (It is now known as Gdańsk, Poland) It was a time of turmoil in the area and the family may have fled to Switzerland. Within three years the family traveled to Hamburg, Germany, and boarded a ship for America. They would soon find their way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In 1846 the separate villages around Milwaukee incorporated into a single city. By then Milwaukee rivaled Chicago in size, wealth and potential, but in 1848 the Illinois city secured railroad and telegraph connections that enabled it to eclipse Milwaukee.
Between 1846 and 1854, a wave of German immigrants arrived in Milwaukee, bringing with them expert industrial skills, refined culture, liberal politics, and Catholicism. Milwaukee soon became a center of foundry, machinery, and metal-working industries, as well as a center for brewing and grain trading. John and his brother Henry learned the printing trade here.
Between 1846 and 1854, a wave of German immigrants arrived in Milwaukee, bringing with them expert industrial skills, refined culture, liberal politics, and Catholicism. Milwaukee soon became a center of foundry, machinery, and metal-working industries, as well as a center for brewing and grain trading. John and his brother Henry learned the printing trade here.
Milwaukee circa 1860 when the Razall family arrived
John must have been very good at his craft because in 1869 he is listed in the city directory as the foreman of the job department at the Milwaukee Herold German language newspaper. He needed a good job because he had just gotten married the year before, at age 18, and had a daughter in 1869. Two sons would soon follow.
John had married a local 17 year old girl named Johannette Lucher. They quickly moved into John's recently widowed mother's home. His brother Henry also lived there.
Things were going well for John. In 1873 he started a printing business with brother Henry and another brother named Charles. He named it the John D. Razall Company. The next year he teamed up with Des Forges, Lawrence & Company a local book and stationary company.
In 1875 his nephew joins him after brother Henry leaves to form his own company. John's company is now named Razall, Breuel & Company. But, was there an ulterior motive to bringing in family to help run the business? That same year John had fallen in love with Elise Molchin, the 18 year old daughter of a local butcher. So much so they took off together to Cincinnati leaving his wife and three young children behind. (Probably out of embarrassment, John's wife listed herself as "Widow of John Razall" for the next several years in the Milwaukee City Directory.)
Elise may have been pregnant when they fled Milwaukee since their first child was born in May 1876.
John had the skills enough to immediately get the job of Superintendent of the Bloch Publishing Company. Edward H. Bloch founded the company in Cincinnati in 1854. Edward's sister, Theresa Bloch, had married Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise in 1844, and Edward's early activities were closely associated with those of his famous brother-in-law, who was laying the foundations of the Reform Jewish movement in the United States. When Rabbi Wise moved to Cincinnati, Bloch followed him. Rabbi Wise founded "The Israelite" newspaper, and after a short time Edward Bloch took over as publisher. Renamed "The American Israelite" in 1874, this newspaper is said to be the longest-running Jewish newspaper in the United States.
John had married a local 17 year old girl named Johannette Lucher. They quickly moved into John's recently widowed mother's home. His brother Henry also lived there.
Things were going well for John. In 1873 he started a printing business with brother Henry and another brother named Charles. He named it the John D. Razall Company. The next year he teamed up with Des Forges, Lawrence & Company a local book and stationary company.
In 1875 his nephew joins him after brother Henry leaves to form his own company. John's company is now named Razall, Breuel & Company. But, was there an ulterior motive to bringing in family to help run the business? That same year John had fallen in love with Elise Molchin, the 18 year old daughter of a local butcher. So much so they took off together to Cincinnati leaving his wife and three young children behind. (Probably out of embarrassment, John's wife listed herself as "Widow of John Razall" for the next several years in the Milwaukee City Directory.)
Elise may have been pregnant when they fled Milwaukee since their first child was born in May 1876.
John had the skills enough to immediately get the job of Superintendent of the Bloch Publishing Company. Edward H. Bloch founded the company in Cincinnati in 1854. Edward's sister, Theresa Bloch, had married Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise in 1844, and Edward's early activities were closely associated with those of his famous brother-in-law, who was laying the foundations of the Reform Jewish movement in the United States. When Rabbi Wise moved to Cincinnati, Bloch followed him. Rabbi Wise founded "The Israelite" newspaper, and after a short time Edward Bloch took over as publisher. Renamed "The American Israelite" in 1874, this newspaper is said to be the longest-running Jewish newspaper in the United States.
The publication, along with "Die Deborah", a German-language supplement that Wise started the following year, soon attracted a large circulation and was influential in helping the nascent Reform movement spread throughout North America. John will become well connected with the reform movement and eventually travel to do speaking engagements for the paper.
The next year John starts his own newspaper called "the Merchant Sentinel". It is a weekly, eight paged, commercial newspaper with a circulation of almost five thousand subscribers. He and Al Sackett, a dry goods dealer, are co-editors. His business is once again named Razall & Company.
In 1879, shortly after the birth of their second son, John and Elise get married in Madisonville, Ohio, where they have a new home, It is just outside of Cincinnati. No record has been found of John having gotten a divorce from his first wife.
In 1879, shortly after the birth of their second son, John and Elise get married in Madisonville, Ohio, where they have a new home, It is just outside of Cincinnati. No record has been found of John having gotten a divorce from his first wife.
The next year Elise's sixteen year old sister leaves Milwaukee to come live with the family and help with their two children.
In 1882 John leaves Bloch Publishing and goes into business. A fellow printer at Bloch, Samuel K. Dwinell, joins him in his new printing company. In 1886 Dwinell leaves to go to St. Louis to start his own printing business, but eventually settles in Memphis.
Things in Cincinnati are pretty quiet for John the next ten years, but in Milwaukee his brother Henry has gotten into trouble. Having started his own business after John left Henry did a bad job running his new business. After filing for bankruptcy for $6,000 ($176,000 today) a fire broke out in his building. The fire department found the source of the fire was a broken off gas burner nozzle. Suspicious, but nothing was proven to arrest Henry. Then an auditor found that Henry's books were off by $17,000 (almost half a million). After recovering from this fiasco Henry was once again found guilty of overcharging the county for work the past twenty years.
In 1882 John leaves Bloch Publishing and goes into business. A fellow printer at Bloch, Samuel K. Dwinell, joins him in his new printing company. In 1886 Dwinell leaves to go to St. Louis to start his own printing business, but eventually settles in Memphis.
Things in Cincinnati are pretty quiet for John the next ten years, but in Milwaukee his brother Henry has gotten into trouble. Having started his own business after John left Henry did a bad job running his new business. After filing for bankruptcy for $6,000 ($176,000 today) a fire broke out in his building. The fire department found the source of the fire was a broken off gas burner nozzle. Suspicious, but nothing was proven to arrest Henry. Then an auditor found that Henry's books were off by $17,000 (almost half a million). After recovering from this fiasco Henry was once again found guilty of overcharging the county for work the past twenty years.
In 1895 John branched out. He joined several others to incorporate the Interior Oil Company for drilling and operating for petroleum and natural gas and constructing and maintaining lines of piping or tubing for its transportation. They opened an office in New Martinsville, West Virginia, for a headquarters. They immediately went looking for oil in Clinton County, Kentucky. Their main competitor, the giant Standard Oil Company, was right behind them exploring for oil in the area. The next year they hit success first....
As the article states there was also oil in the counties on either side of Clinton (Cumberland and Wayne). Wayne County turned out to be the best of the three counties, but John's company was drilling all over Clinton County. Unsuccessful, the company soon faded away. Standard Oil had gone over to Wayne County and had a lot more success.
In 1900 John incorporates his printing business. His partners are his two sons, Gilbert and Paul. Gilbert will manage the company and Paul is their attorney. And John has another business idea. With the United States Playing Card Company now building a new large factory in nearby Norwood, John decides he should start his own playing card company. His new business partner will be another printer that has a shop just three blocks down the street from him. This partner already has playing card making experience. His name is Servetus Longley of the famous Longley Brothers of Eagle Playing Card, Globe Playing Card and Card Fabrique fame.
Razall finds a good opportunity for a factory location in Wabash, Indiana. The town had recently formed the Wabash Commercial Club to help bring new businesses to town. The club had just signed a deal to bring a new cooperage business to town and was looking for more businesses.
John and Servetus go there to make a presentation to start their new card company there. The Payne Furniture Factory that was standing empty would make the perfect place to start their business. They tell the club that not only will they make playing cards they will also make paper boxes, labels and flags. They expect to employ 100 people. The club would just need to put up $15,000 in stock of a new corporation to help finance the deal. As promising as it looks the club backs out in the end.
Where to go next? Maybe they should try Chicago? In November 1901 they become more serious about their idea and incorporate the New Chicago Playing Card Company in South Dakota, where it was cheaper to do so. The incorporators were John, Servetus, William S. Longley, H. E. Longley, I. B. Estes and T. B. Estes. T. P. Estes was the city attorney of Pierre, South Dakota. Estes was working with several Chicago businessmen on large land deals in South Dakota at the time. I. B. Estes was his brother. William S. and H. E. were Servetus's sons.
John and Servetus go there to make a presentation to start their new card company there. The Payne Furniture Factory that was standing empty would make the perfect place to start their business. They tell the club that not only will they make playing cards they will also make paper boxes, labels and flags. They expect to employ 100 people. The club would just need to put up $15,000 in stock of a new corporation to help finance the deal. As promising as it looks the club backs out in the end.
Where to go next? Maybe they should try Chicago? In November 1901 they become more serious about their idea and incorporate the New Chicago Playing Card Company in South Dakota, where it was cheaper to do so. The incorporators were John, Servetus, William S. Longley, H. E. Longley, I. B. Estes and T. B. Estes. T. P. Estes was the city attorney of Pierre, South Dakota. Estes was working with several Chicago businessmen on large land deals in South Dakota at the time. I. B. Estes was his brother. William S. and H. E. were Servetus's sons.
We now move to Waukegan, Illinois, to introduce Samuel Schwartz to our story. Samuel was born in Jassy, Romania, June 8, 1865 and was educated in his native country. At age six his family came to America and made a home in Lake County, Wisconsin, In 1882 he married and by 1889 moved to Waukegan, Illinois, and ran a boarding house and saloon. In 1896 he organized the first Jewish Congress in Waukegan.
In 1899 the Daily Sun newspaper was trying to get his saloon shut down as a public nuisance. But Samuel fought them and won. Then his businesses went through a hard time and he filed for bankruptcy in 1900. Always a fighter he gets back up and rebuilds and the next year Schwartz buys the Dietmeyer block building at Genesee & Water streets in Waukegan. And that November Samuel paid $1,250 ($41,000) to lay the first bricks and have his name on the cornerstone of the new Home for Orthodox Aged Jews in Waukegan.
In 1902 Samuel begins his run for Mayor. He buys one of the finest homes (shown above) in the “Aristocratic” part of town for the present day price of $300,000. The press wondered if he was moving there to make better business connections or to thumb his nose at the high society that looked down their noses at him. Before the election, possibly due to the present Mayor, the police break up a political meeting he was having with some factory workers. He had supplied free beer for everyone. The police showed up and told him the beer could not be drunk, sold or even given away on a Sunday. He had to shut it down. He ends up losing the election.
In March 1903 Razall and Longley arrived in Waukegan to meet with Schwartz. Schwartz has a factory that he recently purchased that might work out for a playing card factory. The old Berry Mill factory was located at Sheridan Road and Water Street. The rent was $4,000 ($129,000) the first year and $5,000 ($160,000) the second year. The deal was for a 10 year lease. Razall and Longley agreed to the terms. They start shipping their equipment from Cincinnati to Waukegan.
Once the equipment reached Hartsdale, Indiana, by the Pennsylvania Rail Road from Cincinnati it would have been transferred to The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway (E J & E) operating between Waukegan, Illinois and Gary, Indiana. The railroad served as a link between Class I railroads traveling to and from Chicago, although it operated almost entirely within the city's suburbs, and only entered Chicago where it served the U.S. Steel South Works on the shores of Lake Michigan. Nicknames for the railroad included "The J" and "The Chicago Outer Belt Line". Once it reached Waukegan they were only a block away from the Berry Mill factory.
After the machinery starts filling up the factory it is discovered that it is too small. So they have a 40 foot two story building added onto the west side of the factory. In August the business re-incorporates with $100,000 ($3 million) in stock and on September 1st production starts for the New Chicago Playing Card Company.
Bad news strikes on October 31st when Servetus dies while in Los Angeles visiting one of his brothers. He owned 30 percent of the company stock.
By January the company is struggling financially like all new businesses and they advertise more stock for sale. On the other hand Schwartz's liquor businesses has seen a 10 percent increase over the previous year. He is a distributor for the local Pabst beer company also.
Bad news strikes on October 31st when Servetus dies while in Los Angeles visiting one of his brothers. He owned 30 percent of the company stock.
By January the company is struggling financially like all new businesses and they advertise more stock for sale. On the other hand Schwartz's liquor businesses has seen a 10 percent increase over the previous year. He is a distributor for the local Pabst beer company also.
Unfortunately Mrs. Schwartz is not happy. She apparently was a major investor in the company. On Saturday night, January 9, 1904, she had the board (Her husband, H. E. Longley and the company treasurer) served with papers. On Monday she had the plant seized by the sheriff for notes due her. Mrs. Schwartz wants the equipment sold to pay her back on a $5,000 ($160,000) note that was not paid on time. H. E. Longley tells the newspapers that returning no dividend in the first year is not uncommon and he hopes to reopen soon. They still have lots of cards in stock.
Samuel Swartz goes to court to fight his wife, and other creditors, and bankruptcy. At the same time he is working on building the largest hotel and theatre in Waukegan. By the end of the month he claims he has an offer of $3,000 ($97,000) for the business. He turns it down claiming he can get a better offer. So on February 29th it is put up for sale to pay off the creditors. Schwartz is the one with the highest bid at $3,000. In April he turns around and sells all the machinery and all the cards in stock to United States Playing Card for $9,000 ($286,000) for a profit of $6,000 ($189,000). He keeps the factory and rents it a Chicago telephone manufacturer. He also immediately signs the deal to build his hotel and theatre. Two years later, after the hotel and theatre are built he will sell them for $65,000 ($2 million). He then starts the North Shore Distilling Company and spends the rest of his career as a wholesale liquor dealer and furniture store owner. He was well known in Waukegan for his philanthropic and civic deeds.
THE CARDS
The Encylopedia of American Playing Cards describe them as......
L51 STEAMBOATS, New Chicago Playing Card Company, Waukegan, Ill., ca. 1903
Note that this deck has the same Joker as L50 (Paper Fabrique Co.)
In 1903 the Longley’s were involved with a new company in New Chicago, Indiana, called New Chicago Playing Card & Flag Mfg. Co. (The Longleys had long manufactured flags along with paper goods) W. S. Longley (manager of Longley Printing in Cincinnati) was a major shareholder and Servetus Longley was listed as a Vice President. The operations were soon transferred to Waukegan, Illinois, just north of Chicago. The deck listed below is the only one we have seen from this company, although we suspect they continued to make other brands as well.
L51 STEAMBOATS, New Chicago Playing Card Company, Waukegan, Ill., ca. 1903
Note that this deck has the same Joker as L50 (Paper Fabrique Co.)
In 1903 the Longley’s were involved with a new company in New Chicago, Indiana, called New Chicago Playing Card & Flag Mfg. Co. (The Longleys had long manufactured flags along with paper goods) W. S. Longley (manager of Longley Printing in Cincinnati) was a major shareholder and Servetus Longley was listed as a Vice President. The operations were soon transferred to Waukegan, Illinois, just north of Chicago. The deck listed below is the only one we have seen from this company, although we suspect they continued to make other brands as well.
First of all, the statement about New Chicago, Indiana, is incorrect. Yes, there is a New Chicago, Indiana, It is about a 45 drive southeast from downtown Chicago. Here is the Wikipedia description;
Located in Lake County, Indiana, and nestled between the City of Hobart, the City of Lake Station and along the Deep River waterway. New Chicago is predominately a residential community located within an urban region characterized by industrial, manufacturing and transportation activities.
New Chicago was platted in 1893. A post office was opened at New Chicago in 1907, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1917.
Located in Lake County, Indiana, and nestled between the City of Hobart, the City of Lake Station and along the Deep River waterway. New Chicago is predominately a residential community located within an urban region characterized by industrial, manufacturing and transportation activities.
New Chicago was platted in 1893. A post office was opened at New Chicago in 1907, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1917.
Even on this map from 1920 you can see it was a very small community. Speaking with the town clerk, Lori Collmar, she told me it is still only about 6 square blocks and never had any factories or large business. Literally a one stop light and one gas station town. I think Gene Hochman was just distracted by the name. I think Razall intended it be the "NEW" Chicago Card Company and not the "NEW CHICAGO" Card Company and Waukegan ended up being close enough to Chicago. (There was a Chicago Playing Card Company still in business in Chicago at this time. But, that's a story for another time.)
What about the Joker being like the one from the Paper Fabrique Card Company. This Joker was used for an advertising deck for Hancock Brothers's Old Port chewing tobacco. (They were out of business by 1903) Paper Fabrique was a Longley Brother card company and Servetus was part of that company.
One thing to watch for on one of these New Chicago Playing Card tuck boxes will be the tax stamp. If you are lucky enough to find one with a readable stamp the cancellation will be important. Remember the company only existed between September 1903 until January 1904. Those will have a rare 1903 NCPC cancellation. After that decks will have a 1904, or later, USPCCo cancellation.
If you want to more about the Longleys just click on this link....
WHAT HAPPENED TO RAZALL?
After the New Chicago Playing Card Company folded this item appeared the Geyer's Stationer Magazine in July;
A new stationery house will probably be established in Milwaukee as a result of differences in the H G Razall Company. John D Razall, who with his nephew Arthur Bruel, was recently sued by H G Razall has disposed of his home in Cincinnati and moved to Milwaukee with his family intending to establish a rival business.
John was planning on selling 100 shares he had in his brother Henry's business, but had discovered Henry had been over-inflating the worth of the company to sell more stock. When he was exposed Henry sued John to keep him quiet. It didn't work and made headlines in Milwaukee. John didn't move to Milwaukee after all. He stayed in Cincinnati and bought the property next door to expand his business.
In 1910 his daughter was attending the university in Zurich, Switzerland, and her mother had been with her there the last two years. Attempting to leave for home, the Swiss discovered that John was not an American citizen. The Swiss claimed that he was still a citizen of Switzerland and that John needed to be an American citizen before they could leave. Mrs. Razall quickly telegraphed her husband about their dilemma. No time in the last sixty years had John ever bothered to become a naturalized citizen. Due to his status in Cincinnati the courts rushed his paperwork through and in April he became an American citizen. Four years later he went to Switzerland with his wife to see his daughter and attend her wedding.
A new stationery house will probably be established in Milwaukee as a result of differences in the H G Razall Company. John D Razall, who with his nephew Arthur Bruel, was recently sued by H G Razall has disposed of his home in Cincinnati and moved to Milwaukee with his family intending to establish a rival business.
John was planning on selling 100 shares he had in his brother Henry's business, but had discovered Henry had been over-inflating the worth of the company to sell more stock. When he was exposed Henry sued John to keep him quiet. It didn't work and made headlines in Milwaukee. John didn't move to Milwaukee after all. He stayed in Cincinnati and bought the property next door to expand his business.
In 1910 his daughter was attending the university in Zurich, Switzerland, and her mother had been with her there the last two years. Attempting to leave for home, the Swiss discovered that John was not an American citizen. The Swiss claimed that he was still a citizen of Switzerland and that John needed to be an American citizen before they could leave. Mrs. Razall quickly telegraphed her husband about their dilemma. No time in the last sixty years had John ever bothered to become a naturalized citizen. Due to his status in Cincinnati the courts rushed his paperwork through and in April he became an American citizen. Four years later he went to Switzerland with his wife to see his daughter and attend her wedding.
The Razall's Ship To See Their Daughter In Switzerland
In August 1918 the Spanish Flu Pandemic struck Cincinnati. But, just two weeks earlier John had died due to cholera morbus. It is an acute gastroenteritis usually occurring in the summer or autumn and characterized by severe cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. A bacterium called vibrio cholerae causes a cholera infection. The deadly effects of the disease are the result of a toxin the bacteria produces in the small intestine. The toxin causes the body to secrete enormous amounts of water, leading to diarrhea and a rapid loss of fluids and salts (electrolytes). Symptoms start two hours to five days after exposure. It is spread mostly by unsafe water and unsafe food that has been contaminated with human feces containing the bacteria. Undercooked seafood is also a common source.
John left his wife a $6,000 ($114,000) life insurance policy and his sons the printing business. The boys decided to sell it off and close Razall Printing. Son Paul then went to Los Angeles and worked as a Civil Engineer and son Gilbert retired to his farm near Cincinnati.
Widow Elise went to live with her daughter Zeleska in Milan, Italy, for a few years. The son-in-law was a wealthy silk manufacturer there.
Widow Elise went to live with her daughter Zeleska in Milan, Italy, for a few years. The son-in-law was a wealthy silk manufacturer there.