August F. Illing (with the X overhead) with unidentified group of men. These men are wearing ribbons indicating it is a Grand Army of the Republic reunion. The word, Lincoln, can be read on one. According to information published in the January 17, 1917 Evansville Courier following his death the day before, Illing was born in Saxony, Germany and came to this country at the age of 13. In Pittsburgh he studied to be an apothecary. After moving to Evansville, he worked for a local druggist before starting his own business on Fulton Ave. in 1874. In 1900 he retired and turned the business over to his sons. He was four times the head of the Germania Maennerchor, a social and singing club founded in 1900 by German immigrants, that promotes German language and culture. Its clubhouse at 916 N. Fulton Ave., was built in 1913 and still stands today, still very active in the community. Illing was prominent in the community, called the, mayor of Lamasco. Lamasco is an area on the west side of Evansville that was founded in 1836 as a separate city. The name came from founders Law, McCall, and Scott. Lamasco and Evansville eventually grew together, and in 1857 it became part of the city of Evansville. Illing is believed to be the grandfather of the originator of this photographic collection, Oramay Cluthe Eades.