Oscar Neebe bio

Per Neebes: Neebe's family were French Huguenots, left for Germany because of persecution.



Oscar Neebe was born July 12, 1850 in New York. His parents were German immigrants Henry  and  Neebe. He was the    of    children, with brothers Louis, Henry, and  Conrad. The family returned to Germany when Oscar was     , so that the children could receive a German education. Oscar returned to the New York. when he was 14, and saw and was affected by returning soldiers from the Civil War. He began to study the gold and silver beating trade, but lung problems from this caused him to leave and go west to Chicago. Work was hard to come by, and Oscar lived marginally until he found work in a saloon. Working up to bartender, he served laborers from the McCormick Machine works, and their conditions caused him to support the 8-hour day movement.

In 1868, he hired on a cook on a lake ship, departed at Cleveland, and went back to New York where he was taken on as an apprentice in a tinsmith shop. With this training he went to work in different shops manufacturing various vessels and cans, and began to see firsthand the tensions between workers and owners. He witnessed owners driving down wages, and using child labor.

In 1873, Oscar married Ann Meta Monsees in Philadelphia. He had followed his brother Louis there and bounced between NY and Philly a bit. Returned to Chicago in 1877. and got a job with a manufacturing company and worked there until he was dismissed for labor activities. He barely held it together until 1879 when he got a job selling yeast. He stayed with them until 1881 when he started the Acme Yeast with his brother Henry and two others. During this time he continued to observe and reflect on the exploitation of labor by owners, to read a great deal, and to reject religion. The Communards of Paris in 1871 were a huge influence, and he became involved with communist groups in Chicago from 1877 to 1880.

He became involved with the Socialistic Publishing Society and the Arbeiter Zeitung in 1880, and worked hard to organize labor, including the Brewers and Maltsters, and also bakers. As a member of the Socialistic Publishing Company, Oscar - along with 13 others, was sued for libel by Recorder James Brockway in 1880.





While in prison, there was a fair amount of attention. The Daily InterOcean reported in April of 1890 that Thomas Broderick, a convicted railroad bomber, had made statements alleging mistreatment of the H martyrs in prison. Oscar, along with Schwab and Fielden, denied this. Oscar spoke of his Keeper, George Wilcox, as one of the best of the guards. In his work as a floor runner in the harness shop, Oscar stated that he was never punished or reported, and was well-treated.

Oscar and Regina had some rocky times. Oscar was involved with a widow he met in Milwaukee, and it was reported in the Trib on August 20, 1896. Regina charged him with divorce in March of 1898. (3-19-98)



CDT 5-28-86
ON's home is at 307 Sedgewick.  He is a partner in Acme Yeast at 568 Sedgwick. He's a member of the Socialistic Publishing Company. He was found at the office of Arbeiter Zeitung on the morning of May 5. He was arrested and then released. His brother Louis had been defeated for North Town Collection in spring 1885.




CDT March 9, 1887
Covers the day before and describes ON learning of his wife's death by a jailer giving him a newspaper accounting it. Fell on his cot with a groan. Later, his brothers Louis and Conrad, and his daughter arrive. Only his daughter was allowed to enter his cell - they embraced and wept. Can  he attend funeral? Sheriff Matson is fine with it.

NYT article says that ON will be allowed to attend funeral.

CDT march 10, 87 reports that ON is allowed to visit home, but not attend funeral. [Tone has changed from previous articles - tone is sympathetic to ON.]  His temporary release was kept very quiet. Louis picked him up, and they proceeded to Louis' house where Oscar's children waited. They were together for 45 minutes and the children were quite upset when he left.

Then Oscar went to his brother's (Conrad) saloon at 281 Sedgewick, where Meta was laid out on the second floor. He collapsed and was crying and sobbing, and reporter said "Those present say it was one of the most painful scenes ever witnessed by them." Her body will be taken to Graceland, and Louis has power of attorney, Oscar was returned to the jail. Much discussion about the funeral becoming a political demonstration, Neebe brother asks Harrison if they need a permit, and Harrison says no and shows support.

Louis wanted to clarify/correct about Meta running a saloon. During the trial, with the assistance of Bartholomay & Burgeweger Brewing Company obtained possession of a saloon at 272 W. Twelth Street. She gave it up 6 weeks later because it was too much with no male help, and there was inadequate business to employ a man. She moved to a small cottage behind Louis's house and stayed there until the defective sewers were a problem. She then moved with her children to Conrad's new place at 281 Sedgewick, and lived there until her death. Meta was born near Bremen, and was ~32 at her death. She was the mother of five children, 3 of them living.