Blue Island in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The William Henke House

12939 Greenwood Avenue

— (Built 1883) —

The William Henke House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 19, 2026

1. The William Henke House Marker

Inscription. William Henke was an executive at the Blue Island Ice Company and served as assessor, clerk, and road commissioner for the Township of Worth. He was also the Third Ward alderman. John Kauffman, a prominent Blue Island contractor, built the house for William Henke. Kauffman was at the Ford's Theater the night Abraham Lincoln was shot. He held such a strong resemblance to John Wilkes Booth, that he was detained by the police for a time.

This historic marker was funded partially by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.

Location. 41° 39.474′ N, 87° 40.952′ W. Marker is on Blue Island, Illinois, in Cook County. It is at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and High Street on Greenwood Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12939 Greenwood Avenue, Blue Island IL 60406,

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United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago

and in the Calumet Region.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Alden J. Klein House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Joshua P. Young House (within shouting distance of this marker); Conrad & Matilda Kich House (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dixie Highway connected Chicago to Miami in the early days of automobile travel (about 700 feet away); The William Schreiber House (about 800 feet away); Albert & Alice Roche House (about 800 feet away); Myrtle Albee House, 1878 (approx. 0.2 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blue Island.

Regarding The William Henke House.

The William Henke House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 19, 2026

2. The William Henke House

John Kauffman, the contractor named on this marker, was Blue Island's last surviving veteran of the Civil War. Kauffman was born in Pennsylvania in 1844, and according to military records he enlisted in the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry in Philadelphia on July 13, 1863. (Kauffman's obituary in the Blue Island Sun-Standard newspaper says he enlisted in March 1862, but that appears to be incorrect.) The 20th fought in numerous post-Gettysburg campaigns across Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland; in an oral history of his Civil War experience printed in the same Sun-Standard edition as his obituary, Kauffman says that his company was detailed to Gettysburg when Lincoln visited for his famous speech in November 1863, although that could not be confirmed. Kauffman's obituary also shares the story of his attendance at Ford's Theater on April 14, 1865 in Washington, D.C. According to the article, Kauffman had a heavy black mustache at the time of the shooting — similar to John Wilkes Booth — and that he and all men in attendance who had similar mustaches were held in custody until the morning. Kauffman moved to the Chicago area after the war

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and became a prominent contractor in Blue Island, which is about 15 miles south of downtown Chicago. He died on October 1, 1937, and was buried in Mt. Greenwood Cemetery on Chicago's South Side, about 2 miles north of Blue Island.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.