Max was born in Chicago , Cook County , Illinois , where he attended the public schools there . His father died in 1866 , when Max was only five years old . The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 caused Max 's family to lose all of their income , and two years later they moved to New York and lived in the 7th Ward on the East-side . Max attended public schools on Monroe and Henry Streets . After school , Max had to work as an errand boy and a newsboy to help support his family financially
Great Chicago Fire of 1871
Great Chicago Fire
Max Samuel Grifenhagen