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Daniel Emrich came to the United States with his wife, Margaretha Geisheimer, from Liebling, Austria, just before their first child was born. He and his wife settled on the north side of Chicago, later moving to the south east side. Daniel and Margaretha had two daughters, Margaret Eva and Marie. Daniel got a job working for the Pullman Car Company doing woodworking on the train cars. Life in Chicago revolved around the Farmer’s Hall. Every Friday night the German-Americans would meet for dinner. All the women would cook and the men would socialize after dinner. It was a very close-knit community.
During the Great Depression, Daniel and Margaretha saw that many of his friends and neighbors were about to loose their homes. He and his wife would pay off the existing mortgage and rent back their homes for a nominal fee. Once the family was on their feet they could buy back their home, which was sold to them at the original mortgage balance. This allowed many people to stay and keep their homes. At one point the Emrich family owned forty apartments in Chicago.
After World War II Daniel and Margaretha sponsored many displaced immigrants. The new arrivals would move into the house on 118th Street and live with them until they got a job and a home. Working with the displaced families was a family affair, both daughters shuttled people to English classes and helped them find work. Once the new families moved into their home an English Dictionary would mysteriously appear on their doorstep, which was a gift from Daniel.
Margaretha had a heart attack and passed away in 1957 and she buried in Mt. Greenwood Cemetery at Worth, IL.
Their daughter, Margaret Eva passed away from complications during surgery while being treated for breast cancer and heart problems in 1960. Margaret Eva is buried in the family plot at Mt. Greenwood Cemetery at Worth, IL.
Their youngest daughter Marie passed away from bone cancer in 1968 and is also buried at Mt. Greenwood Cemetery in Worth, IL.
Daniel continued to live in their home at 406 West 118th Street, Chicago, IL 60628. He later moved to Warren Drive in Mokena, IL. Daniel passed away in 1971 after complications developed from gallbladder surgery.
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