Show zia ONE OP bf SOUTH F ELGINS lidin S industrious RESIDENTS aalee a candidate candida for rou political call office and nearly elected both time lye haper with HU ss graess wife la in a neat most little cottage ROM C chicago b 1 c ag b chronicle A little weather stained cottage perched high on a bank of the fox river not far from the northwestern railway 1 station at south elgin or clinton vine ville as the railway time card calls it to is the home and workshop of adam dumerauf he has been blind adam only about halt half his big life but his present friends and acquaintances never knew him when he posa possessed essed sight and among them behas he has always been called by the nickname within the last two or three years year s blind adas adam who is a broo mf has become one of the best known residents of kane county and politics has been the cause of his increase in famed fame three years ago friends induced him to run for the office of county collector he was defeated by a small majority his opponent was elected by so small a margin that adam again entered the race the next year for the his wily opponents not to be taken at any disadvantage by adams physical misfortune also nominated a blind man adams sightless opponent had bad at one time been an employed in the big watch factory in elgin across the river and his former fellow workmen stood by their old associate at the ballot box and the he was again defeated by a few dozen votes adams wife like himself is blind the couple live together in the little cottage which belonged to sallie dower bower before she married adam dumerauf the house has a double front the west room is used as a living apartment and the east room is adams broom factory factor mrs du dumerauf mery is said to be just as able to get along in the world as her worthy husband she takes care of all household duties without the least difficulty and without any assistance and when it comes to sewing she threads a needle as quickly as anyone and can darn darm a patch to a queens taste mr most entertaining story is his courtship and engagement to miss bower you see it was like this said the 1 I 1 had been coming around here selling brooms for several years and I 1 knew most everybody pretty well one of my best friends was john dietrich who has long since passed away one day john said to me afla adam why dont you get married well john I 1 never thought about it before I 1 replied 1 I dont suppose any girl who could see would want to marry a man who well now I 1 know just the girl for you sohn john went on she Is blind like you and she owns a little house and lot over here on an the railroad ill take you yon over to see her and well wea see it if we cant fix it up all right said I 1 and over we went miss bower was at home and john and I 1 went in miss bower and I 1 were introduced and she said she had heard of me bogere then pretty soon we arranged what I 1 guess was the quickest engagement on record john rays now miss bower you and mr dumerauf are both blind both single and both perhaps more or less lonely in the world work I 1 I 1 suppose you have some property miss bower and adam has accumulated some by making and selling brooms now says john why it be a good plan for you two to get married that miss bower says john is what we have come over here to see about i miss bower said it if all the good things ohe had heard about me were true she guessed it would be all right so we were engaged there and then and a little later we were married at her brother in laws in the big ig white house next door blind adam roams around south elgin with almost as great ease as it if he be could sm see he gets up on the ralla rails of the northwestern tracks and walks to the station or to the crossing with perfect accuracy with the assistance of his cane and nothing more he goes to any spot in the town in which he never lived until after he lost his eyesight Hem he makes alces just ai as good goob brooms as are made by broom makers who can see and he makes them almost as fast fasl expert broom makers can construct about three brooms an hour blind adam aap tal can make two an hour without unusual effort the blind man is a musician as well and brings brangs a little additional revenue into inte tbt family coffers hy by playing his unto tute at parties dances and receptions mr Dirmer auf briefly recounted events of ills his afe ufe as he continued work a at abu his acx bench bya birth I 1 araa ama bavarian gatz german sv fe a to this country un an unskilled laborer ah xh when en I 1 bras n about old 4 cameto can teto 1111 illinois noli and went tar worx on a farm laMe Henry county the i 1 vi cAred waa rat th ew around anany to a od alle 1 I wa both of them that wa awen five ve yew year yago r ago soon after I 1 lost my eyes I 1 I 1 went to the blind asylum and school at jade jack there I 1 learned broo ak ing and also learned to play the blutt and accordion I 1 afford d to return to the school for a second term so 90 I 1 went to the town of huntley lu in 1872 1972 and began work I 1 stayed there until about 79 when I 1 came here to south elgin got married and se settled wed down |