My Genealogy Hound

SEBASTIAN HOHMANN, barber, Bloomington; more familiarly known as Charlie Hohmann, the barber; was born in Germany, Jan. 9, 1841; in 1846, he came to America, and landed in New York city; from there he went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he first engaged in working in a glass factory; at 14 years of age he commenced to learn his trade as barber, in Buffalo; he at length came West and has been located in different States, working at his trade. Mr. Hohmann was also barber on the Mississippi River for four or five seasons; he was on the steamer Grey Eagle, then running between St. Louis and St. Paul, when she collided with the railroad bridge at Rock Island, and sunk in a very short time; Mr. Hohmann was one of six whose efforts saved forty-eight persons from a watery grave; he himself received a very painful wound on the wrist, the effects of which are apparent to this day. He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in 1862, as private, in Co. A, 96th I. V. I.; he had charge of a brigade band for one and a half years, and the remainder of the time served in the ranks; he was mustered out at close of war; in 1865 he returned to Bloomington, which has been his home ever since; he is one of the oldest barbers in the business in the city, and owns the finest shop in Bloomington, situated in the Ashley House. Mr. Hohmann is also manager of Hohmann & Hasting’s band, which is one of the finest bands in Central Illinois.