Nicholas Lodge was born August 23, 1832, in Haswell, County Durham, England, the oldest child of Robert Lodge and Hannah Lee. Prior to coming to America on April 30, 1859, he travelled widely to the East Indies, Africa and other places in the Old World.

Early Life and Career

Nicholas came to America to look for the grave of his mother who had died in 1853 in New York on an earlier visit. He married Marie Catherine Biehl January 31, 1862, in Albany, New York. Marie was the daughter of Carl and Henrietta Biehl who had emigrated from Heidelberg, Germany, to Albany, New York, about 1850.

Nicholas and Marie were the parents of nine children: Charles Robert, Hannah Henrietta (who married Irvin Francis Palm), Catherine Jane, Caroline Charlotte, Mary Ann (who married William Russell), Minnie Augusta, Lillian Lucia (who married Leroy Skinner), Oscar Nicholas and Esther Eleanor.

Career in Naperville

Nicholas came to Naperville in March 1872 when he was hired as the superintendent for the Naperville Drain-Tile and Brick Works that was founded by William King and George Martin on the Martin property. He was a tile and brick manufacturer and kiln builder, and had learned the trade from his father. Nicholas plied his trade in England, then Albany, New York; followed by jobs in Aurora, Crete, Western Springs and Naperville, Illinois.

He was a member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Nicholas was raised a Master Mason on May 15, 1877, and was exalted a Royal Arch Mason May 14, 1892.

Nicholas Lodge died January 18, 1917, in Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois. The Rev. Alfred E. Randell, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Naperville, conducted the funeral rites at his home and the members of Euclid Lodge performed the simple Masonic funeral ceremony at the grave in the Naperville Cemetery.

Original reporting: Positively Naperville (Aurora area) — read the source article.