USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > History of Dubuque County, Iowa; being a general survey of Dubuque County history, including a history of the city of Dubuque and special account of districts throughout the county, from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 63
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JOSEPH H. RHOMBERG, general manager of the Dubuque Star Brewing Company, was born in this city July 31, 1863, and the
F. M. Rhonelevy
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
greater part of his life has been spent here. He was the third in order of birth in a family of four sons and one daughter born to Joseph Andrew and Catherina Rhomberg, an account of whom appears elsewhere in this publication. His early schooling was acquired in the public and parochial institutions of this city and later he entered the old Christian Brothers' College, at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Desiring to take up the study of engineering, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1881 was graduated from the Washington University. He then went to Texas and for a time was master mechanic of his father's railroad, the Austin & North- western line, but in 1885 returned to Dubuque to assume the posi- tion of general manager and superintendent of the Dubuque street railway, then controlled and operated by his father. In 1898, how- ever, he built and was one of the organizers of the Dubuque Star Brewing Company, one of the largest concerns of its kind in the state, and has been the general manager of same ever since. Aside from the above, Mr. Rhomberg deals somewhat extensively in real estate. He is an independent Republican in politics, voting for the man rather than the party, and socially is identified with the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. In religious views he is a Roman Catholic and a member of the Sacred Heart church of this city. On May 17, 1891, at Dubuque, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth H. Meuser, daughter of William and Margaret Meu- ser, and to them three children have been born, named : Joseph W., attending St. Mary's High School; Marie and John, each attending Sacred Heart School.
JACOB KERPER, general merchant at New Vienna, was born August 26, 1848, in Rheinish Prussia, Germany. When four years old he came with his parents, John and Anna Maria Kerper, to the United States and, locating at the then frontier settlement of New Vienna, Iowa, the father bought an eighty-acre tract of land and engaged in farming. By hard work and economy he gradually increased his real estate holdings until he at one time owned 240 acres. He was one of the thrifty, upright men of Dubuque county and died with the high esteem of all who knew him, in 1899, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife died in 1896, aged seventy- eight years. Jacob Kerper received a liberal education in the public schools and the Epworth Seminary. He taught school for a time and clerked in the store of A. C. Walker Company, at Farley, until June, 1872, then came to New Vienna as salesman for George Mein- hart. Eventually Mr. Kerper, by purchase, succeeded to the busi- ness of Mr. Meinhart, and rebuilding the premises, now conducts one of the best equipped mercantile establishments in the surround- ing community. Mr. Kerper inherits the thrift and industry of his parents, and aside from his mercantile interests is the owner of valuable real estate in North Dakota, Washington, Nebraska, Iowa
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and Minnesota. He is also president of the German State Bank at Dyersville, and as an independent Republican in politics has served as mayor of New Vienna six years, trustee many years and school treasurer for twenty-five years. He is a member of the Catholic church, of which, for sixteen years, he has been secretary. June 30, 1873, he married Miss Mary Ann Meyer, daughter of George and Magdalena Meyer, old pioneers of this locality, and to this union have been born twelve children: Mathias, who died in 1890, when eight years old; George L .; Bernard V .; Otto N .; Edmund M .; Alver H .; Eugene P .; Annie G. (Mrs. E. H. Willging) ; Agnes C. (Mrs. Dr. F. X. Lang) ; and three who died in infancy. Mr. Kerper and family are among the best known people of western Dubuque county.
HERBERT C. KRETSCHMER, president of the Kretschmer Manu- facturing Company, was born in the city of Dubuque, August 2, 1866, a son of Charles G. and Anna (Fangler) Kretschmer, pio- neer residents here. The father was a native of Breslau, Prussian Province of Silesia, Germany, but in 1849 immigrated to America and two years later located at Dubuque. For a time he conducted a private school, after which, from 1857 to 1897, he taught in the Fifth Ward (Audubon) School. He was widely known as an able instructor, and passed away at the age of seventy-six years. His widow still survives him. Their son, Herbert C. Kretschmer, received his education in the school where his father taught for so many years, and at the age of fifteen started out in life for himself as a plumber's helper for Morrison Brothers, and later secured employment with Mr. A. Y. McDonald, starting as shipping boy and being promoted as occasion warranted until reaching the posi- tion of shipping clerk. For a time he then traveled as salesman for this firm, but in 1907, in partnership with his brother, Frederick N., established their present concern and embarked in the manufac- ture of plumbing specialties and supplies. Through their able man- agement the business prospered and the establishment now occupies a four-story building of 100 by 150 feet dimensions. Mr. Kretsch- mer is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. November 14, 1907, he was united in marriage with Miss Tenie Essmann, daughter of one of Du- buque's pioneer manufacturers, and they now reside at 256 Thir- teenth street.
ADAM J. HOEFER, well-known resident of New Vienna, is a native of Dubuque county, and the son of Christian and Anna Maria. Christian Hoefer was born in the Prussian Province of Nassau, Germany, in the year 1812, and in 1844 emigrated to the United States, landing at New York City. He decided to come west in search of a home, and made the journey partly by canal to Sandusky,
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
Ohio; Christian Hoefer lived three years at Sandusky, Ohio, before he came to Chicago and West, thence by lakes to Chicago, thence by stage to Galena, Illinois, and a year later came to Dubuque county and with a soldier's warrant for 160 acres settled on a farm in New Wine township. He was one of the pioneer settlers in this section of the county and experienced the trials and hardships incident to early times. He died on November 1, 1892, aged eighty years, and was followed by his wife in 1893, at the age of seventy-five. Both are buried in St. Boniface cemetery at New Vienna. Adam J. Hoefer received his early education in the local public schools. The date of his birth was August 7, 1856. He also attended St. Francis College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, succeeding which for five years he taught in the district schools of Dubuque county. He then con- ducted a hotel at New Vienna for fifteen years, and in 1895 em- barked in his present business-real estate and insurance. Mr. Hoe- fer is a Democrat in politics, is serving as town mayor at the present time, and for thirty years has been a justice of the peace. In relig- ious views he is a Roman Catholic, being a member of St. Boniface church. November 23, 1879, at New Vienna, he married Miss Josephine Kokenge, daughter of John B. and Marianna Kokenge. Her father followed the sea as first officer for years, and later con- ducted a hotel at Cincinnati, Ohio. In about 1850 he came to Du- buque county, Iowa, and engaged in farming until his death in about 1866. His wife died in 1898 and both are buried at New Vienna. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoefer the following children have been born : Mary C., Catherine J., Adam H., Regina S., Eugene H., and three who died in infancy.
FREDERICK N. KRETSCHMER, vice-president and treasurer of the Kretschmer Manufacturing Company, with offices and plant on Washington street, was born in Dubuque, October 19, 1869, and is a son of Charles G. and Anna (Fengler) Kretschmer. For forty years the father taught in the public schools of this city, and with his passing Dubuque lost a strong advocate of education and a man highly respected by all who knew him. A more appropriate sketch of the elder Kretschmer appears in connection with that of his son, Herbert C. Our subject received his early scholastic training in the Fifth Ward (Audubon) School, with which his father was identi- fied for so many years, and after graduating therefrom entered a bank with a view to taking up that line of business later in life. He relinquished this idea, however, and in partnership with his brother, founded the Kretschmer Manufacturing Company and em- barked in the manufacture of plumbing specialties and supplies. They started out in a small way, but by shrewd business manage- ment prospered until today their establishment is regarded as one of the solid and substantial houses of the city. These two men started out in life without any especial advantages, and by their
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
own unaided efforts have accumulated a competency and attained a position of honor and respect among their fellowmen.
SAMUEL T. SWIFT, present recorder for Dubuque county, Iowa, was born at Benton, Lafayette county, Wisconsin, October 15, 1876, the son of John P. and Ellen Swift. Both parents were also natives of Lafayette county and descended from the oldest settlers of that locality. Jolin P. Swift was a farmer by occupation, but is now living retired from the active cares of life. Samuel T. Swift, the immediate subject of this memoir, primarily attended the public schools and later the Plattsville Normal School. Succeeding his graduation from the latter lie learned the barber trade, and after finishing his apprenticeship purchased a shop at 540 Main street, Dubuque, in 1898, which he still conducts. He is a director of the Eagle Building Association and was chairman of the building com- mittee which had charge of the remodeling of the association build- ing. As a Democrat in politics Mr. Swift was elected county re- corder in 1906 and is a candidate for re-election. Socially he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is past president of the local Order of Eagles, and secretary of the Iowa State Eagles, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. In re- ligious views he is identified with St. Anthony's Roman Catholic church. On January 1, 1902, in Dubuque, he married Miss Dor- othea Baule, daughter of William and Caroline Baule. William Baule served his country during the Civil war and died from the ef- fects of injuries received in an engagement. His widow yet survives and resides with the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Swift the following named four children have been born; Dorothea, died in infancy; Carolyn, six years old, attending school; Aileen, four years old; and Nell, two years of age. The family home is located at 330 Grandview avenue.
CORNELIUS DANIEL HARRINGTON, the present clerk of the Dis- trict Court, to which position he was first elected in the fall of 1908, was born in Springfield, Illinois, Marchi 20, 1861, the son of Jere- miah and Catherine Harrington. The parents were natives of County Cork, Ireland, but immigrated to America in or about the year 1840, and located at Springfield, Illinois, where they remained until 1862. They then came to Dubuque county, Iowa, and settled on a farm in Jefferson township, where they lived happily together until their respective deaths. The father was a good and honest man, having many friends and no enemies, and when he passed away on December 20, 1873, at the age of seventy years, his loss was mourned generally throughout the county. His widow survived him until June, 1904, when, at the age of eighty-four, she, too, was summoned to the great unknown. Both now lie at rest in the ceme- tery at Rickardsville.
John Glade
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
The boyhood days of Cornelius Daniel Harrington were spent in attending the public schools and assisting his father on the farm. He has resided on the old homestead all his life, remodeling and improving same, and for fourteen years has been secretary of the Balltown Co-operative Creamery, in which he is also a stockholder. At the age of twenty-one years lie was elected a member of the board of directors of his school district. As he seemed specially suited to public life, he bent his energies in that direction. For five years he served as assessor of Jefferson township, which position he resigned to become county supervisor, holding same for six years. Mr. Har- rington then returned to his farm and engaged in agricultural pur- suits until the fall election of 1908, at which time he was elected to the position of clerk of the District Court, which position he has filled with honor and credit. He is a Democrat in politics, and in religious views an adherent of the Roman Catholic faith, affiliating with the Sacred Heart church. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Eagles, and the Modern Woodmen of the World. To his marriage with Miss Lucie Herkes, solemnized December 3, 1892, at Balltown, there have been born three children : Adeline, John D., and Margaret. John P. Herkes, father of Mrs. Harrington, came to Dubuque county at an early date with his wife, Margaretta, and served the Union cause during the Civil war.
JOHN GLAB, one of Dubuque county's highly respected citizens, is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in the village of Gueges- heim, of Hesse-Darmstadt, November 1I, 1834. He was one of a family of six children born to Christoph and Elizabeth Glab, both of whom were descended from old German families, and who in 1854 immigrated to the United States and located on a farm in Dubuque county. The father was an honest, conscientious man, a credit to any community, and after a long and useful life of eighty- eight years passed away on the old homestead in 1888. His wife died ten years before, at the age of seventy-eight. Their son, John, the immediate subject of this review, received his schooling in the public institutions of his native country, and after coming to America worked for a time in a lead mine in this county. He then followed teaming for a while, and subsequently freighted wood on the Mississippi river until 1865. He then bought a distillery and a flour mill, but disposed of same after successfully operating them five years, and in 1870 established himself in the manufacture of vinegar and pickles, which industry he continued for a period of thirty-six years. The building hie occupied is now one of Dubuque's hostelries, known as the Glab House. Mr. Glab has always taken an active interest in local affairs of importance, and served as alder- man from his ward during 1883 and 1884, and as mayor of Dubuque
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
in 1885 and 1886. In religion he is an adherent of the Roman Cath- olic faith and is a member of St. Mary's church. On December 7, 1861, at Dubuque, he was united in marriage with Miss Louise Wag- ner, daughter of Peter Wagner, who died on the voyage from Ger- many to this country. To Mr. and Mrs. Glab four sons and two daughters have been born, as follows: John Nicholas, who died in 1897, aged thirty-seven ; Lena, wife of B. D. Heeb, capitalist, resid- ing in California: Henry, of St. Louis; Lulu, who married F. K. Matterson, deceased. and now resides with her father; Leo F., a plumber of this city ; and Morris P., a news agent. Mr. Glab's resi- dence is at 846 West Fifth street, his home for the past forty years. For the past eight years Mr. Glab has been justice of the peace in Dubuque.
PROF. GEORGE F. GERKEN, in charge of the parochial school at New Vienna, is a native of Dubuque County, Iowa, a son of Henry and Anna (Winter) Gerken and a grandson of Herman Gerken. The latter came from the Prussian Province of Westphalia, Ger- many, to America and Dubuque county in 1850, and for a time fol- lowed carpentering. He later engaged in farming near Dyers- ville, and died in 1878, aged fifty-six years, preceded by his wife in 1862, and both are buried at Dyersville. Mrs. Anna Gerken's father, John Peter Winter, was born in the year 1816 at Niedersain, Nassau, Germany. He came to America in 1854, settling first at Dubuque, and in 1865 at New Vienna, following the trade of masonry. He died in the year 1896, preceded by his wife in 1888. They are both buried at New Vienna.
Henry Gerken was born on his father's farm near New Vienna on September 2, 1855, and after attending the public schools, learned the carpenter's trade. In 1878 he married Miss Anna Winter, and to them were born the following named children: Aloysius, a car- penter at Dyersville; Mary, wife of Joseph Fritz, farming at Adrian, Minnesota: George F .; Hubert, a carpenter at Adrian; Wilhel- mina, wife of Peter Winter, farming at Adrian : Irma, residing with her brother George ; Alphons, a carpenter : Ewald, presently a farm- hand ; and Zita, attending school. George F. Gerken, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born on October 28, 1884, attended the parochial school at New Vienna during boyhood days, and for a time was employed as painter by Jacob Summer. In 1907, he went to St. Francis, Wisconsin, and entered the Catholic Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1909 with his diploma as teacher. He then returned to New Vienna and the following year was ap- pointed in charge of the parochial school in that village, and also to fill the position as organist at the St. Boniface Church. Prof. Gerken is a Democrat in his political views, and a Roman Catholic in religion. Both his parents are yet living, making their home in
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New Vienna, and bear the respect and esteem of all who know them.
ADAM GLAB, pioneer business man of Dubuque, now deceased, was born in the Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, No- vember 17, 1828. He acquired a practical education in his native country and there first learned that success was to be obtained only through industry and economy. In 1852 he immigrated to the United States and the same year located in Dubuque, Iowa, which was ever afterwards his home. For a number of years he followed mining, as was the usual custom of the early settlers, but in 1866, at a cost of $50,000, he built the Northern Brewery and was there- after actively identified with the brewing interests of Dubuque until his death. Mr. Glab was a fine example of the self-made man. He started out in life for himself without a dollar. A stranger in a strange land, unacquainted with the ways and customs of a people speaking an unknown tongue, his efforts were in many ways im- peded. He possessed natural qualities of shrewdness and sound business ideas, and gradually prospered until he had accumulated a competency. He was a close observer of human nature, generous in his relations with his fellow men and was a liberal contributor to charitable and deserving objects. In 1850 he married Katharina Werner, by whom he became the father of eight children, the fol- lowing named six now living: Louise, Nicholas, Margaret, Alois, Frank and Kathrina. Mr. Glab and family were adherents of the Roman Catholic faith. He died November 26, 1880, and his widow on February 7, 1903. They were among the best people of this
locality.
Nicholas Glab, the eldest son of Adam Glab, was born in the city of Dubuque, April 10, 1857, and was here reared to manhood and received his education. He has, all his life, made this place his home. He was associated with his father in the management of the Glab Brewery until his father's death, after which he and his broth- ers, Alois and Frank, conducted the business under the name of The Glab Brothers until the consolidation of several brewing interests in 1892, and from that time until May, 1910, was president and general manager of the new organization. At the latter date he re- tired from the more active duties and business cares of life, devot- ing the time to looking after his extensive property interests in and around Dubuque. He belongs to the Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat. On May 4, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Homan, daughter of Mathias Homan, who died September 5, 1905, leaving one daughter and three sons, as follows: Mary K., the wife of Karl Ziepprecht, of Dubuque ; William M., a member of the Board of Supervising En- gineers of the Chicago Street Railway Company : Edward ; and John Irwin, a student at the Northwestern Military Academy. For his
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
second wife Mr. Glab married, on February 7, 1910, Miss Sarah E. Deggendorff, daughter of the old settlers, John and Sarah Deg- gendorff. Their home is at 3216 Couler Avenue, Dubuque.
DR. FRANK X. LANGE, well-known dental practitioner at New Vienna, was born in that village February 20, 1880, and is a son of Andrew and Magdalena Lange. The father, a native of Prussia, came to America and New Vienna, Iowa, about 1870, and here engaged in the tailoring business. He is now retired from active participation in business affairs and resides in Dyersville, Iowa. Dr. Frank X. Lange, the immediate subject of this memoir, was educated in the local parochial school, graduating in 1897. He early decided to take up the study and practice of dentistry and accordingly in the fall of 1897 entered the College of Dentistry, State University of Iowa, at Iowa City, and in June, 1901, was duly graduated therefrom with the degree of D. D. S. He then returned to New Vienna and immediately embarked in the practice of his profession, and has since been thus successfully engaged. He is a member of the Dubuque District Dental Society, the State Dental Society and the Knights of Columbus. In religious views he is a Roman Catholic and is identified with St. Boniface church. On November 25, 1908, at New Vienna, he was united in marriage with Miss Agnes C. Kerper, daughter of Jacob Kerper, who is appropriately represented elsewhere in this publication. Dr. Lange has been very successful in his work at New Vienna, and is one of the county's younger generation of professional men.
JOHN C. BROELL, senior partner of the Dubuque Statuary and Ornamental Company, is identified with a branch of industry com- paratively new to this locality, but which, from present indications, promises to attain high rank among the commercial houses of the county. This, in the main, is the manufacture of religious statuary. Mr. Broell was born in the village of Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, on March 9, 1879, and is a son of John and Mary Broell, both natives of that country. The father, a machinist by occupation, died there in 1880, aged thirty-six, but the mother still survives him. Their son, John C., attended the public schools of his native city during boyhood, and when thirteen years old attended the Vienna, Austria, School of Arts. In 1894 he went to Mannheim, Bavaria, where he attended the Academy of Arts, and subsequently also attended the art schools of Berlin, receiving various diplomas from these institutions. Like many young men of foreign birth he early in life decided that the greatest chances for success could be found in America, and accordingly in 1896 emigrated to this country, and after a short time spent in the Southern states came to Dubuque. Here for a time he worked as frescoer for Mr. Brielmeyer, one of the leading church decorators, and then for a period of ten years
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
was employed as artist by the Dubuque Altar Company, having charge of the statuary department. On May 5, 1909, he established himself in business on Nineteenth street, later removing to Jackson and Sixteenth streets. His business grew and prospered and he was later forced to remove to his present quarters. On October I, 1910, he associated himself with John Kohler and this partnership has since continued. The firm makes a specialty of religious statu- ary of life and half life size, and they also manufacture consider- able ornamental building work in the way of cornices, mouldings, ctc. They market their products in Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Wiscon- sin, Minnesota, Nebraska, the Dakotas and even as far as Arizona. The remarkable success of the concern in such a short space of time is due in no small degree to the efforts of Mr. Broell and the fact that the firm employs none but the very best of artists in the mould- ing line. To his marriage with Miss Mary Nesen, solemnized in Dubuque, October 26, 1905, one daughter, Katherine Marie, now four years old, has been born. Mrs. Broell, who was a daughter of John and Katherine Nesen, of this city, passed away on December 10, 1908.
JOHN G. OVEL, now retired and residing in the village of New Vienna, is a native of Dubuque county, Iowa, and a son of Gerhard Herman and Anna Mary Ovel. The father was born in Germany in the year 1800 and emigrated to the United States in 1840, settling on a tract of land near New Vienna, Iowa. This consisted of 200 acres of raw and unbroken prairie land, but he carefully improved same, bringing it to a high state of cultivation, and later also pur- chased another farm of 160 acres. At his death, which occurred in 1880, at the age of eighty years, his property was divided among his children. Mrs. Ovel survived her husband until April, 1886, when she passed away at the age of seventy-three years ; he was buried at Petersburg, Iowa, and she at New Vienna. John G. Ovel was born on the old home farm August 22, 1850, and received his early education in the public schools of Bremer township, Delaware county, Iowa. He later, until fifteen years old, attended the paro- chial school at New Vienna, and then helped his father on the farm. When the father died Mr. Ovel received the old home place as his share of the estate, and thereon he erected a new house, barn, suit- able outbuildings, etc., and today this is regarded as one of the foremost farms in the community. Mr. Ovel continued farming and general stock raising until his retirement from the more active duties of life in 1910. He has since made his home in the village of New Vienna. He is a Democrat in politics, a Roman Catholic in religion, has served as a director on the board of education and is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Association. On January 25, 1876, at New Vienna, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaretha Catherina Johanning, daughter of Werner and
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