Born the son of German immigrants on February 7, 1855, Henry J. Bohn worked first on the family farm, then as a telegrapher and in a printing office before moving to Chicago in 1876. At age twenty-three, he became foreman in a newspaper office; this initial work in publishing led to a lifetime of work as owner and editor of Hotel World, which he purchased in 1879. For many years, Bohn worked alongside his brother, John J.