USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 20
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pany gives adequate service in furnishing a supply of pure water for city consumption.
On the 17th of January, 1900, Mr. Lawlor was united in mar- riage to Miss Lila W. Foote, of Burlington, a daughter of Mark S. Foote, and they have one child, Mary Josephine. They hold mem- bership in St. Paul's Catholic church and Mr. Lawlor is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. In politics he is a republican but not an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He belongs to the Commercial Club and his deep interest in his profession and in the line of work to which he is now directing his energies is indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Illinois Water Supply Association, the American Waterworks Association, the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers and the Ameri- can Society of Civil Engineers. He has made steady advancement in his chosen calling and his broad scientific knowledge and practical experience have placed him in a most creditable position in the ranks of the profession.
CASPER HEIL.
Burlington is one of the brewing centers of the Mississippi valley and in connection with that line of business Casper Heil is well known, having in 1872 established the business under the name of the Casper Heil Brewing Company at No. 865 Jefferson street. He still remains in connection with the business although he has now passed the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey.
He was born in Germany on the 7th of December, 1830, and spent the period of his minority in his native land. Thinking to have bet- ter business opportunities in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, where he arrived on the 12th of June, 1852, and after spending a brief period in the east he came to Burlington on the 10th of August of the same year. He was a cooper by trade and for several years conducted a shop, manufacturing barrels of all kinds. In 1865 he removed to Des Moines, where he purchased a brewery, which he conducted until 1872. He then returned to Bur- lington and bought the Bauer & Schafner Brewery, which he has since conducted. The business was reorganized under the name of the Casper Heil Brewing Company. The plant, located at No. 865 Jefferson street, occupies an area of one hundred and fifty-two by one hundred and twenty-two feet and the buildings are from one to
CASPER HEIL
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six stories in height. He has remodeled and equipped the plant until it is a first class establishment of its kind and he employs twenty people on an average. The plant now has a capacity of ten thousand barrels annually and he manufactures Heil's Extra, which is bottled. He buys his malt from Davenport and from Wisconsin and he has spared no pains nor effort to make the product an excellent one. The present officers of the company are: Casper Heil, president; Oscar Heil, vice president; and H. A. Heil, secretary and treasurer.
On March 19, 1861, Mr. Heil was united in marriage to Miss Susan Ziegenhein, a native of Burlington, born in April, 1842, and a daughter of Theodore Ziegenhein, a native of Germany, who came to the United States in 1840, casting in his lot among the pioneer settlers of Burlington. Mr. and Mrs. Heil have become the parents of the following children : William, now residing in St. Louis ; Mrs. Herman A. Mathes, deceased; Ida, who became the wife of H. A. Mathes after the death of her sister ; Mollie and Nettie, both at home ; Oscar, who is vice president of the Casper Heil Brewing Company ; and H. A., who is the secretary and treasurer of the company. The last named wedded Miss Adell Kennedy, of Fort Madison, and they have two children, Susan and Mary.
Oscar and H. A. Heil hold membership with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Mr. Heil of this review is a mem- ber of the Commercial Club. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and although he never seeks nor desires office he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and is ever ready to support his position by intelligent argument. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the business opportunities which he sought and which, by the way, are always open to determined, am- bitious young men.
CHARLES H. TAEGER.
Charles H. Taeger was a widely known and popular citizen of Burlington, in which city his birth occurred. He continued his resi- dence here and steadily worked his way upward in business until, notwithstanding the fact that he started out in life without financial assistance, he became the possessor of a handsome competence.
Mr. Taeger was born October 31, 1862. He was fortunate in that he had back of him an ancestry honorable and able and was Vol. II-13
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happy in the fact that his life was cast in harmony therewith. His parents were Henry and Mary ( Poggemen) Taeger, natives of Ger- many. The father, born in 1826, came to America in early life and was employed on various farms for a time, after which he secured a position in the National State Bank of Burlington, in which he remained for many years. He served in the German army before coming to the United States. He made a most creditable name in business circles and enjoyed the confidence and high regard of col- leagues and contemporaries. He is now living retired at No. 714 Ninth street and is still active and well preserved in spite of his eighty-eight years. He keeps in touch with the progress of the times and is interested in all daily occurrences and events. His wife, who was born in 1834, passed away about twenty years ago. Her father was a well known character of the early days here and was one of the first teachers in a private school in this vicinity. He was widely recognized as a man of liberal education, was a fluent speaker and was most highly respected by all with whom he came in contact.
To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Taeger were born two children. Mary became the wife of Herman Suesens, who passed away about twenty years ago, and she now lives with her father. She has a family of five children. Alfred, who is in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, married Naomi Schontz, by whom he has one son, John, and they reside in St. Joseph, Missouri. Josephine Suesens is at home. Benjamin, of Burlington, married Miss Bessie Kiesling and they have a son, Charles Frederick. Mayme, a graduate of the Burlington high school and the State Normal, is a successful teacher in the Prospect Hill school. John, like the other members of the Suesens family, is a high-school gradu- ate. He now lives in Fort Madison and has entire control of the telephone lines there, a very responsible position for one so young.
Charles H. Taeger, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Taeger, was educated in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades until graduated from the Burlington high school. He after- ward pursued a course in the business college of Burlington and studied music under Professor Shilling. He first entered business circles in the employ of the firm of Dalahaye & Purdy, wholesale liquor merchants, with whom he remained for several years. He next secured a clerkship in the Herman shoe store and afterward occupied a clerical position in the office of the Murray Iron Works. He afterward returned to the liquor business, becoming a wholesale dealer in wines and other liquors, and in that business he continued until he was called to his final rest.
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On the 6th of July, 1883, Mr. Taeger was united in marriage to Miss Amelia M. Bokenkamp, who was born in Burlington, March 14, 1866, a daughter of Richard and Fredericka ( Forthman) Boken- kamp. Her father was born in Germany and in early childhood became a resident of St. Louis, whence he made his way to Burling- ton. For many years he conducted business as an architect and con- tractor and made for himself a creditable place as a representative of industrial interests in this city. He died of apoplexy in 1882 and was laid to rest in the Aspen Grove cemetery. His political alle- giance was given to the democratic party but he was not an office seeker. Fraternally he was connected with the Odd Fellows. His wife, also a native of Germany, came to America when fourteen years of age and passed away on the 3d of July, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Bokenkamp had a large family, of whom six are yet living: Augusta, the wife of John Roth, living on the Fort Madison road in Burlington; Henry, of this city; Mrs. Taeger; Albert, also of Burlington; William, living in Muscatine, Iowa; and Frank, of Chi- cago. The Bokenkamps were members of the Evangelical church, to which the family of Henry Taeger also belonged.
To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Taeger were born three children, all natives of Burlington. Gertrude is the wife of Frederick Schramm and they live with her mother. Mr. Schramm is a son of Arthur Schramm, proprietor of a shoe store in Burlington. Frederick Schramm is a graduate of the Burlington high school and to him and his wife has been born a daughter, Lucia Elizabeth. Raymond H. Taeger married Miss Jessie Wilcox and they have a daughter, Mary Jane. Salina, born in 1886, died the same year.
The death of Mr. Taeger occurred March 29, 1906, and was a matter of deep and sincere regret to many friends as well as to the immediate family. He belonged to the Eagle Club and to the Lone Tree and Crystal Lake Fishing clubs and he was also connected with the Knights of Pythias. In politics his leaning was toward the democratic party but he frequently cast an independent ballot, desir- ing that the best men should occupy the public offices. He was broad-minded, liberal and very progressive. He met a tragic death, being struck by the cars, and the news of his demise came as a shock to all. He was very popular, easily winning friends. Although his parents were quite wealthy, he did not depend upon his father for financial aid in his business career and steadily worked his way upward, assisted by his wife, who has the true German thrift and enterprise, displaying at all times careful management in her house-
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hold affairs. Mrs. Taeger and her family reside at No. 613 Gar- field avenue in the beautiful home which her husband purchased from Mr. Wundt and remodeled. She and her children are devoted mem- bers of St. Luke's church and contribute generously to the church work and to many charitable and benevolent projects.
W. A. MATHES.
W. A. Mathes is a partner of F. L. Unterkircher in the under- taking and livery business which, however, is conducted under the firm style of F. L. & G. L. Unterkircher, livery and funeral direc- tors. As junior partner in the business Mr. Mathes is active in directing its interests and furthering the success which has constantly attended the enterprise, which was established more than half a century ago.
Mr. Mathes is one of Burlington's native sons. He was born September 8, 1883, and was educated in the public schools and also in Elliott's Business College, in which he pursued a commercial course. Early in his business career he was connected with the wholesale grocery house of Bikler & Winzer for twelve years, his capability and trustworthiness causing him to be retained in that employ for an extended period. Upon the death of his father-in- law, G. L. Unterkircher, however, he succeeded him in the livery and undertaking business, which is carried on under the firm style of F. L. & G. L. Unterkircher. The business was founded fifty years ago by P. F. Unterkircher, the father of the senior partner, and when he admitted his sons to a partnership the firm name of P. F. Unterkircher & Sons was assumed. The business was conducted under that style until 1893, when, the sons having taken over the business, the present name of F. L. & G. L. Unterkircher was assumed. About three years ago, however, G. L. Unterkircher passed away and W. A. Mathes became his successor in the owner- ship and conduct of the business. They have one of the largest con- cerns of the kind in the state. They own a three-story brick block one hundred by one hundred and twenty-five feet, occupying the entire building in the conduct of the business. They have an ele- gantly appointed chapel and carry a full line of undertaking sup- plies. Their patronage is extensive and their success is well mer- ited because of their thoroughly reliable and honorable business methods.
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On the 30th of April, 1907, Mr. Mathes was united in marriage to Miss Grace Unterkircher, who was educated in the schools of Burlington and also pursued a special course in Mount St. Joseph's school at Dubuque. Mr. Mathes is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership with the Elks, the Eagles, the Woodmen of the World and the Moose. Something of the nature of his recrea- tion is indicated in the fact that he belongs to the Carthage Lake Fishing Club and the Pinkem Fishing Club. He is recognized as an enterprising and progressive business man, as a public-spirited citizen and as one whose attractive social qualities are the secret of his widespread popularity.
T. F. COOKE, D. D. S.
Among the members of the dental profession in Burlington whose ability is attested by a liberal practice is Dr. T. F. Cooke. He was born in Amherst, Wisconsin, June 5, 1871, a son of William and Susanna (Harvey) Cooke, both of whom are now deceased. The father was a Methodist minister and devoted his entire life to the work of preaching the gospel. Both he and his wife were natives of the north of Ireland and came to the United States in April, 1870, taking up their abode in Wisconsin. In the years that followed the Rev. William Cooke was connected with the Metho- dist ministry in Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota and was numbered among the pioneer preachers of that denomination in the latter state. In the family were ten children, seven of whom are yet living.
In the acquirement of his education Dr. Cooke passed through . consecutive grades in the public schools until he became a high- school pupil and later he continued his education in the Lawrence College of Wisconsin and in the Hamline University of Minnesota, thus completing his more specifically literary course. In prepara- tion for a professional career he entered the University of Minne- sota as a dental student and is numbered among its alumni of 1897. For two years thereafter he practiced in Plainview, Minnesota, and then removed to Dickinson, North Dakota, where he remained for two years. The succeeding five years were spent in Mediapolis, Iowa, and then, seeking a still broader field of labor, he came to Burlington in the fall of 1906. In the intervening period of eight years he has steadily advanced in his chosen calling and has kept in
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close touch with the improvements which modern scientific investi- gation has brought to light. He is a member of the Burlington District Dental Society and of the Iowa State Dental Society and for two years served as secretary of the society. He is now a mem- ber of the state board of dental examiners.
In 1898 Dr. Cooke was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Anderson, of Reeds, Minnesota, and they have two children, Donald E. and Dorothy. Dr. Cooke is a member of the Delta Sigma Delta, a college fraternity. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and gives his political allegiance to the prohibition party, keeping at all times well informed on the questions and issues of the day. so that he is ever ready to support his position by intelligent argument. He has never sought nor desired office, however, pre- ferring to concentrate his energies upon his professional duties.
CHARLES KOESTNER.
Charles Koestner is a retired farmer living on Madison avenue in Burlington and there are in his life record many elements worthy of consideration and of emulation so that he well deserves a place in the history of Des Moines county. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 24, 1839, a son of John and Kundigunde ( Barnigel) Koestner. The father's birth occurred in Bavaria, December 18, 1803, in the same house where his son Charles was born. He was reared to farm life and acquired a public-school education. In 1832 he married and he and his wife began their domestic life in their native land, remaining there for twenty-three years after their mar- riage, during which time seven children were added to the family. Crossing the Atlantic in 1855, they landed at New Orleans and thence proceeded up the Mississippi to Burlington. They settled in Burlington township in the immediate neighborhood of the present home of Charles Koestner and in that locality the father spent his remaining days. He was engaged in general farming for a number of years and passed away in May, 1873. His wife, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 10, 1810, was a daughter of Conrad and Elizabeth Barnigel. She died in April, 1882, and was laid to rest by the side of her husband in the Catholic cemetery on North Hill. They were devoted members of St. John's church and Mr. Koestner gave his political allegiance to the democratic party.
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In the family were seven children: George, who died at the age of thirty-three years; Charles; Margaret, who became the wife of John Hoffmann and died at her home in New York at the age of fifty-two years; Anna, who became the wife of Henry Eversman, but both are now deceased; Sister Mary Bathilda, who was a sister superior and died in Mankato, Minnesota, in 1896; Catherine, who died at the age of fifteen years ; and John, who has also passed away.
Charles Koestner was educated in the schools of Germany and of America, being a youth of sixteen years at the time of the emigra- tion to the new world. He supplemented his public-school course in Burlington by study in Elliott's Business College. He was reared to manhood on the home farm in Burlington township and also aided his father in the work of the fields, continuing to take part in the further development and cultivation of the home place until August 24, 1866, when he was married to Miss Philomena Geb- hardt, who was born in Burlington, September 16, 1846, a daughter of John and Ludivica (Willem) Gebhardt, natives of Germany and France respectively. The parents and grandparents of Mrs. Koest- ner were among the earliest settlers of Des Moines county, arriving here in the early '30s. All have now passed away, their graves being found in the Sixth street cemetery. Mrs. Koestner died Novem- ber 2, 1885, leaving six children. She was a devoted member of St. John's Catholic church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Koestner were born the following children : Henry C., born in Burlington in 1867, is a farmer and dairyman, conducting a successful and profitable business along sanitary lines. He married Sophia Brune and they have three daughters, Philo- mena, Bathilda and Katherine, all at home. George J., the second member of the Koestner family, was born in Burlington in 1868 and lives a half mile south of his father on Madison avenue. He wedded Mary Vorwerk, a native of Burlington, and they have seven children, Ralph, Herbert, Henrietta, Minnie, Mary, George and Genevieve. Francis Joseph, born on the Mason farm on the Mason road in 1870, owns and occupies a farm just outside the city limits and is also engaged in the dairy business. He wedded Mary Kuntz, a native of Des Moines county, and their children are Bertha, Harry, Rosa, Clara, Sophia and Francis who passed away in infancy, and Ruth. Andrew J., born on the Mason farm in 1875 and living on the northwest corner of his father's farm, married Miss Minnie Meunzenmeier and they have three children, Margaret, Gertrude and Andrew. Annie Ludivica, born July 18, 1876, remained single and at home until her death July 24, 1913, the consolation and com-
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fort of her aged father. Carl E., born in 1884 and now living upon a part of his father's farm, married Miss Ida Shulte and they have four children, Burnett, Annie, Edward and Robert.
Having lost his first wife, Mr. Koestner was married March 3, 1887, to Miss Elizabeth Hoelscher, who was born in Burlington township on her father's farm within a half mile of her present home, January 22, 1847, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Hoss) Hoelscher. The parents were natives of Germany and in early life came to the United States. Both have now passed away. They had six children: Catherine, the deceased wife of M. J. Gutekunst, of Burlington; Mary, the wife of John Keitzer, a farmer living on Augusta road; Henry, who made his home in Keokuk county but is now deceased; John, who has also passed away in Keokuk county; Mrs. Koestner; Christina, who is still living upon the old home place of her father.
Following his first marriage Mr. Koestner removed to Burling- ton, where he engaged in clerking in the general store of J. W. Rhodes for four years and three months, but, although he had a good salary, he found it difficult to save much and in 1869 he removed to the Mason farm of three hundred acres on the Mason road, for which he paid a rental of one thousand dollars per year. He thereon resided for twenty-three years, after which he removed to the Greenleaf Neally farm, known as the Greenleaf Fruit Farm, just outside the city limits of Burlington. He purchased this place in 1891 and he also bought the place where his son Carl now resides. His own home stands on a plat of some six acres. He has a beauti- ful house and grounds and has added to his place all modern improvements, building corn cribs, a granary, chicken houses and a tool house. He has also remodeled his residence and has built a barn for his son. In addition to his home property he has three residences in the city of Burlington, which he rents, and owns besides about four hundred acres of land close to his home, all good fruit bearing land. He energetically and successfully carried on farming until 1909, winning a substantial measure of success. He then retired and his son Carl took up the management of the farm.
In politics Mr. Koestner is a democrat, although he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has served as township trustee, has filled the office of school director for many years and was at one time a nominee for state senator. He is one of the most active work- ers and generous supporters of St. John's Catholic church, and his sons and their families are also communicants thereof. He is a broad- minded, well read man, and in business he has displayed keen
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sagacity and insight. His wife is a devoted member of the German Evangelical church and a lady of many excellent traits of character. When twenty-one years of age, Mr. Koestner was a poor man prac- tically empty-handed. His parents gave him his clothing and one hundred dollars wages per annum, and he had eight hundred dollars, including the interest on his savings, when he started out for himself. By hard work and enonomy he has accumulated a very comfortable competence and is now accounted one of the substantial farmers of the county. A contemporary biographer, writing of him, said :
"Charles Koestner is a notable representative of an old German family and has manifested in the course of an active and interesting career many of the most interesting traits of his race and blood- those traits that have made the German-American citizen of this country so highly honored as an acquisition to the nation. He has been industrious to a marked degree and has never shown any dis- position to shirk hard work or avoid his full share of the labor to be done. He has kept his word and his pledge has been like a bond. For twenty-three years he leased the Mason farm, paying one thou- sand dollars annually, and during that time he was never required to sign a lease. Kind to the poor, and with an ear always open to the cry of the needy, he has ever been a good neighbor, generous friend and an upright citizen. He has been a kind husband and a loving father, giving his children the best of advantages in starting them in life for themselves, as well as giving them that best of her- itages, a home training that made strict integrity and upright morals the things of greatest value in their estimation. These are the vir- tues that belong to the German blood, and these characterize the career of the man whose life deeds and achievements are the subject of this biographical history."
WILLIAM H. DEBENHAM.
Every citizen of Burlington is proud of its Young Men's Chris- tian Association, which has been greatly advanced through the efforts and ability of its general secretary, William H. Debenham. He has been a close student of every question connected with the work and the possibilities and opportunities that continually open up in this connection and there is no phase of helpful work for boys and men in the field of physical, mental and moral development that is not stimulated here. He was born in Morrison, Grundy county,
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