Anthony Eickhoff

Anthony Eickhoff
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 7th district
In office March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1879
Preceded by	David Dudley Field II
Succeeded by	Edwin Einstein
New York City Fire Commissioner
In office 1891–1896
Coroner of New York County
In office 1874–1876
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 10th district
In office January 1, 1864 – August 1, 1864
Preceded by	Daniel M. O'Brien
Succeeded by	Thomas J. Creamer
Personal details
Born	(1827-09-11)September 11, 1827 Lippstadt, Benninghausen, Prussia
Died	November 5, 1901(1901-11-05) (aged 74) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Louise Elisa Neuenschwander ​ ​ (m. 1855)​

Gerhard Anton Eickhoff (September 11, 1827 – November 5, 1901) was a German-American journalist, editor, author, lawyer, Congressman from New York, United States Treasury auditor, and New York City Fire Commissioner.

Biography

He was born in the rural hamlet Kaldewei, part of the village of Benninghausen, Prussia, today suburbanized into Lippstadt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. His parents Caspar Eickhoff (1803–1867) and Maria Catharina Trockel (1803–1863) and their forefathers were peasants in the hamlet Kaldewei, born in serfdom to the Cistercian Cloister of Benninghausen (founded in 1240, secularized in 1804), but ultimately released from serfdom by the Grand Duke in 1809.

After his school education he started to work as a teacher in Lippstadt and publicized radical writings in pre-revolutionary Prussia until 1847. In 1847 he decided to emigrate to the United States and boarded the ship Itzstein & Welcker sailing from Bremen on October 24, 1847, and arrived in New Orleans on January 6, 1848.

He married Louise Elisa Neuenschwander around 1855. She immigrated from Switzerland to the United States. Their children were Henry Eickhoff (January 17, 1856 – October 17, 1933) and two daughters. Anthony Eickhoff's grandson was lawyer Henry Eickhoff, Jr. (February 17, 1898 – August 12, 1954).

First profession and journalism (1848–1856)

His first employment was as deckhand on a Mississippi steamboat, later he became a teacher in a Jesuit school in St. Louis and studied law. Early he began to work as journalist, founder and editor of several German newspapers. In St. Louis, Missouri, he was founder and editor of St. Louis Zeitung in 1848 and 1849. In Dubuque, Iowa, he edited Der Nordwestliche Demokrat, later named Iowa Staatszeitung, from 1849 to 1850. In Louisville, Kentucky, it was Der Beobachter am Ohio, edited 1850–1852. Finally he settled in New York City: he edited Die Abendpost in 1852 and New Yorker Staats-Zeitung from 1854 to 1856. He became naturalized in 1855 and practiced law.

Serving New York State, Congress and Treasury Department (1863–1889)

During the civil war he served as Commissary General of Subsistence for the State of New York troops, appointed in 1863. In 1864 he was elected to the New York State Legislature. In 1876 he was elected as Democrat to the 45th Congress as a representative of the 7th district of New York (March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879), but was an unsuccessful candidate in re-election to the 46th Congress in 1878. Later he was Fifth Auditor in the United States Treasury Department from August 1, 1885, to May 17, 1889.

Serving as New York City municipality official 1889–1901

In 1874 he was elected Coroner of New York City until 1876. He became the Fire Commissioner of New York City in 1889, re-appointed until 1896 and served as an Auditor of the New York City Fire Department from 1898 until his death in 1901.

He died on November 5, 1901, in New York City and is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Works

• In der Neuen Heimath: geschichtliche Mittheilungen über die deutschen Einwanderer in allen Theilen der Union; Steiger & Co., New York City 1st edition 1884, 2nd edition 1885; German
• Mexico. Aus einer Discussion in einem deutschen demokratischen Vereine zu New York; 1865, New York City Library; German

External links

• United States Congress. "Anthony Eickhoff (id: E000095)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Anthony Eickhoff at Find a Grave