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LOUIS BORNHOEFT

Louis, chief of police of East Moline, and the most efficient official this locality has ever possessed, is a man of strength of character and resourceful capability. He was born in Holstein. Germany, in 1803, a son of Louis and Magdelina (Kelting) Bornhoeft. The father was a trader in Germany, where he passed a long and useful life, dying in 1878. His widow survived him until 1883. Neither left their native land.

Louis Bornhoeft grew up in his native land where he attended the public schools and was taught butchering. When he came to Moline direct from Germany in 1880, he opened a butcher shop, operating it until he went to St. Louis to engage in the same liue. Later he was a cowboy in Texas for two and one-half years.

In 1888, Mr. Bornhoeft was married to Marguette Kasch, also born in Germany. They have hnd five children: Theodore. Louis. Freda, De Linda and Stephen. In religious faith, he is a Lutheran, and fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America.

An independent voter, he did not attach himself to any party. He showed his courage and fearlessness upon so many occasions that in 190G, he was made a patrolman of East Moline. The year following he was placed in charge of the police department, for it was recognized that he was the one man who could handle the situation. When he assumed charge, the village was much in need of stern discipline, and Chief Bornhoeft made his authority recognized and respected.

His four patrolmen were given definite and prohibitive orders, which he saw were rigidly enforced, and today East Moline is as peaceful a community as can be found in Rock Island county. In addition to having charge of the police department, Chief Bornhoeft is also fire chief, and has that department of public administration in a high state of efficiency. No other man has done so much for his community as Mr. Bornhoeft, who never stops to consider personal convenience when public matters are in question, and for these and other reasons, he is really the leader of East Moline.

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

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