The immigration of Danes to America started about 1770. Chicago today has more than 15,000 Danes that is heads of families, and single people.

Emil Dreier (Dreyer) arrived in 1854 at the age of 21. He can tell us much about Chicago in the good old days. In 1854 there were about twenty Danes in Chicago. Among them was Peter Hansen, who had been U. S. Consul at Elsinore, and Commissioner of Health in Chicago. Another, H. A. Miller, built the first soda water plant and the first syrup plant here.

Mr. Dreier has been president of the County Board and of the School Board.

Today the Danes live around Wicker Park, North Avenue and Western, and also around Humboldt Park.

Society Dania, is the largest society [of the Danish Colonys]; it has over 400 members. Dania has bought its own ground on Milwaukee Avenue, where a magnificent hall will be built.

The only two Danish papers in Chicago are Scandinaven (?) and Norden. In politics the Danes have not done much, and up to a year ago, most of them were Republicans, but today the majority are Democrats and Socialists.

The oldest Danish-built house is Hotel Dannevirke, 217-19 Milwaukee Avenue, owned by Christian Hansen.

Among other prominent, old timers we must mention Coroner Henry L. Hertz, 3who arrived in Chicago in 1869.

The proprietors of the banking house, Petersen and Bay, must also be remembered.

West Town Collector, Olaf Hansen, is also a Dane.

John P. Hansen, who is considered the wealthiest Dane in Chicago, is one of the directors of the Milwaukee Avenue State Bank.

The well-known Dr. Kristian Fenger and Dr. Max and Christian Henius are not only the most popular but also the best known doctors.

Among the nationally known artists are Johannes Gelert and Carl Rohl-Smith, sculptors; the marine painter, Christian Paulsen, and the writer, Morris Salomosen (Danish Jew).