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 68
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at Ryan. In 1909 he was transferred to Dyersville, Iowa, and has here been since located. Mr. Duffy is a Democrat in his political views, a Catholic in religion, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was married at Masonville, Iowa, September 6, 1905, to Miss Loretta Barry, and one daughter, Catherine, was born to them on February 25, 1908. Mrs. Duffy is the daughter of William and Catherine Barry, natives of Dubuque county, Iowa, and at present engaged in farming near Masonville.
BENJAMIN J. SCHWIND, assistant secretary and treasurer of the Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company since 1908, was born in Dubuque county, Iowa. August 1, 1869, a son of the old pioneers, Jacob and Maria Schwind, appropriate mention of whom is made elsewhere in this publication. He was educated in the local ward and high schools, leaving the latter in his sixteenth year, and for a time thereafter was bookkeeper for Eulberg Brothers, brewers, at Portage, Wisconsin. He subsequently returned to Dubuque and became a bookkeeper in the Tschirgi & Schwind Brewery, remain- ing thus employed until he and his brother purchased the above named concern, which they reorganized as the Western Brewing Company, and conducted successfully until the consolidation of four local breweries. This was in 1892. Mr. Schwind was cashier and had charge of the shipping department of the new organiza- tion, and in 1906 became a director and was elected assistant sec- retary and treasurer, which position he has held ever since. He is also a director of the German Trust and Savings Bank, vice- president of the Dubuque Automobile and Garage Company, secre- tary and treasurer of the East Dubuque Supply Company, and treasurer of the Dubuque Realty Company. Socially he is identi- ficd with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, now a trustee of Dubuque Lodge No. 297, and in religious views a mem- ber of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church. - On November 5, 1890, in Dubuque, he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Carney, daughter of Frank and Mary Carney, one of the oldest families in Dubuque county. Mr. Carney, now seventy years of age, is still active in business affairs and is a cigar and tobacco merchant in Dubuque. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Schwind one daughter and one son have been born, named, Grace M., born September 13, 1892, attending St. Joseph's Academy, and Ben- jamin J., Jr., born September 5. 1894, now in attendance at St. Joseph's College. Mr. Schwind and family reside at 386 Hill street.
AUGUST BECKER, since 1900 superintendent and brewmaster for the Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company, Dubuque, is a native of Germany, and the son of Johann and Barbara Becker. The parents both died in the old country in 1885, the father being a
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domain manager by occupation. August Becker completed his education in the public schools when fifteen years old, and then secured employment in a German brewery. In 1872 he came to the United States and for a time worked in the Koehler & Lange brewery at Davenport, Iowa, succeeding which he removed to Rock Island, Illinois. Eight months later he returned to Davenport and for a year was again in the employ of Koehler & Lange, then went with Wertmuller & Ande, with whom he remained as foreman nine years. In 1888 he came to Dubuque and for five years was employed in a similar capacity in the Glab brewery. In 1894 he became associated as assistant foreman with the Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company, which position he held until promoted to his present position of superintendent and brewmaster. Mr. Becker has extensive real estate holdings in Dubuque county and else- where, and in religious views is a member of the Holy Ghost Roman Catholic church. Socially he is identified with the Catholic Order of Foresters. On May 7, 1878, at Davenport, Iowa, he was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Dietz, daughter of Frank and Rehena Dietz, pioneer settlers of Davenport, where the mother yet resides. Frank Dietz is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Becker seven children have been born, two dying in infancy, as follows: Oscar, assistant foreman in the Dubnque Brewing and Malting Company ; Arthur H., who is running a poultry farm: Frank, a machinist ; August, Jr., a bookkeeper ; and Alma. The Becker residence is located at 3265 Jackson street, city of Dubuque.
SIMON BURLAGE, SR., living in Dyersville, since 1903, retired from the active business cares of life, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, January 23, 1848. His parents, Herman and Cath- erine Burlage, were natives of Munster, Province of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, and came to the United States in 1830, locating in South Carolina, where all their children were born. In his native country Herman Burlage served as a soldier. At Charleston he worked at blacksmithing, and being of an econom- ical turn of mind, saved his money, and in 1853 bought a tract of 200 acres of land at Government prices in New Wine Township, Dubuque county, Iowa. He enlisted for the suppression of the Indians in Florida, when he first came to America, and from there moved here in 1858. As his land was wholly unimproved, he built thereon a cabin and began clearing and experiencing all the hard- ships incident to pioneer life. As time passed better buildings were erected, better implements were procured, orchards and shrubbery were set out, better grades of domestic stock were introduced and eventually this place became one of the best farms of the com- munity. All this was brought about by hard work, economy, care- ful management and saving. Mr. Burlage died February 12, 1891, when eighty years of age. He was a man of sound judgment, his
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word was as good as his bond, his honesty was proverbial and he was held in universal esteem by all who knew him. His ruling am- bition was to rear his children to honorable, useful lives and to good citizenship. No less respected was his wife, the sharer of his bur- dens and a helpmeet in every sense of the word. She died Decem- ber 23, 1893, aged eighty-two years, and both are buried in the cemetery at New Vienna. Simon Burlage, Sr., attended the schools of his native city for two years prior to coming to Dubuque county with his parents. Here he attended the school at New Vienna in early youth and assisted his father on the home farm until his twenty-third year, then obtained the ownership of an 160 acre farm in Dodge Township, upon the payment of $2,000 to his brother, Nicholas. This property was unimproved, but, inheriting thrift and the willingness to work from his parents, he set to work with a will and gradually brought it to a high state of development. Be- lieving that soil was the real foundation of substantial wealth, he gradually increased his real estate holdings until at one time he was the owner of nearly 900 acres. This he subsequently divided into four separate farms, disposing of all but 240 acres, which he yet owns and on which two of his sons are now residing. Besides this, Mr. Burlage owns the Agricultural Building in Dyersville and stock in the Worthington Savings Bank. In religion he is a Roman Catholic; in politics he is independent, voting in all cases for whom appears to be the best man, regardless of party affiliation. June 23, 1873, he married Mari Angla Esch, daughter of Theodore and Catherine Esch; his sons, Nichols and Petter H. Mr. Esch, who established the first brewery in Dyersville, died April 30, 1892, aged eighty-one years, and his wife October 3, 1875, at sixty-four years of age. Both have their final resting place in the cemetery at Dyersville. Besides the following named seven children, born to Mr. and Mrs. Burlage, they have one adopted daughter, named Dorothea; Theodore, a farmer of Dubuque county ; Nicholas, sales- man for a cream separating concern; Simon, Jr., and Frank P., farmers; Catharine, the wife of John Kramer, of Delaware county ; Mary Josephine, who married John Kirsch and resides in this county ; and Annie, who died December 7, 1903, aged twenty-two years. Mr. Burlage owns some town property, consisting of lots and the fine home in which he lives.
ROBERT HAY, sole proprietor of the Key City Roofing Company, with offices at the corner of Eighth and White streets, Dubuque, was born at Cupar, Fife, Scotland, on January 26, 1863. His par- ents, Thomas and Mary A. Hay, are descended from old Scotch families, and are yet living in Scotland. The father has long been retired, but during his active business career was a prominent Glas- gow merchant. Robert Hay was educated in the Glasgow public schools, which he left in his thirteenth year, and about 1880 immi-
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grated to the United States, locating primarily at Providence, Rhode Island. For a time he worked at various occupations, then hired out to a farmer at the rate of four dollars a month and con- tinned thus for a year and a half. He then returned to his native country and learned the machinist's trade, and upon completing his apprenticeship again came to America and located in Dubuque, Iowa. For some time he worked at his trade in the shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, and then estab- lished himself in business on a small scale. The Key City Roofing Company has grown from a comparatively unimportant concern to one of Dubuque's largest and most substantial business houses, and deals in asphalt, resin, pitch, coal tar, roofing paints, roofing, build- ing papers, deafening felts, building materials, wall coping, sewer pipe, flue linings, mortar colors, mineral wool, lime, hair, cement, fire brick, fire clay, etc., and employs, outside of the regular office force, about twenty experienced men. Aside from the above men- tioned interests Mr. Hay is president of the Lightcap Company and treasurer and director of the Dubuque Shippers' Association. He is a director of the Dubuque Y. M. C. A., president of the board of trustees of the Westminster Presbyterian church, and a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Dubuque and Iowa State traveling men's associations. On Sep- tember 12, 1888, at Platteville, Wisconsin, he married Miss Lizetta H. Hay, daughter of Robert and Catherine Hay, the former dying at Platteville when seventy years of age, and the latter now resid- ing with Mr. and Mrs. Hay in Dubuque, aged seventy-eight years. To Mr. and Mrs. Hay two sons and one daughter have been born, as follows: Robert Philip, born November 5. 1889, a graduate of Dubuque High School, now associated in business with his father; Henry Malcolm, born October 24, 1892, attending public schools ; and Helen Catherine, born October 15, 1893, now attending high school. The family home is located at 82 Arlington street.
WILLIAM C. LUTHER, Vice president and secretary of the Tele- graph-Herald Company since its organization in November, 1901, was born in the city of Dubuque, September 22, 1865. Charles and Minnie Luther, his parents, were natives of Germany. They came from Berlin to the United States in 1851, and after a six months' stay in New York, located permanently in Dubuque. Here the father engaged in the tobacco business and was, in all prob- ability, the first wholesale cigar dealer here. He built up a large business and established a reputation for honesty and good citizen- ship. In 1907. at the age of eighty-two years, he died, preceded by his wife in 1894, aged sixty-four years.
The early life of William C. Luther was passed much after the manner of the boys of that time. He attended the public schools, and later the night sessions of Bayless Business College. When
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fifteen years of age he began working on the Dubuque Times, con- tinuing thus ten years, then was associated with the Dubuque Tele- graph until its reorganization as the Telegraph-Herald in 1901. In religion Mr. Luther is a member of St. Luke's Methodist Episcopal church; in politics he is a Democrat, having served as a member of the County Central Committee and in other official capacities for his party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. January 13, 1897, he was united in marriage with Miss Della Stephens, daughter of John Stephens, who, for a number of years, was engaged in business in Dubuque.
THOMAS J. FITZPATRICK, attorney and counsellor at law, is a native of Iowa, his birth occurring at Greeley, Delaware county, September 25, 1872. His parents, James and Hulda (Foley ) Fitz- patrick, were born in Ireland, but came to the United States about the year 1845, and engaged in farming near Colesburg, Iowa. They subsequently moved to their present farm near Greeley, where they still reside, and where they celebrated their golden wedding on November 12, 1910, at the ages of eighty-four and seventy-three years respectively. Thomas J. Fitzpatrick was reared on the home farm, assisting in the usual work and attending the district school. He graduated from the Greeley High school, attended the Iowa City Academy, and took the prescribed course at St. Joseph's Col- lege, Dubuque. He completed his literary education by taking a three years' course in the department of Liberal Arts in the State University at Iowa City, receiving from this institution the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1896 he completed his legal studies in the law department of the State University, and since that time has practiced his profession in Dubuque with unusual success. In his general views he is democratic, and in his political affiliation, a Democrat. By election he served as state's attorney during the years 1903 and 1904. In religion he is a Roman Catholic, being a member of St. Patrick's parish. Socially he belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians; he is also a member of the board of education of Dubuque. On July 26, 1899, at Dougherty, Iowa, he married Miss Agnes C. Wade, daughter of Michael and Margaret Wade.
Mr. Fitzpatrick is generally conceded to be one of the foremost lawyers of Iowa, and is the senior member of the firm of Fitzpat- rick & Frantzen. He is the present attorney for the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad Company for eastern Iowa, and his firm is the legal adviser of many of the most important concerns in Dubuque.
He is one of the best orators at the Dubuque bar and to his elo- quence and manifest sincerity may be attributed his marked success before a jury.
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JOHN I. MULLANY, a well known legal practitioner of Dubuque, is a native of Ireland, his birth occurring about April 1, 1847, in the county of Tipperary. He is a son of John and Catherine Hutchinson Mullany, both of whom were born and reared in that country. In 1849 the family left the mother country and immi- grated to America, first locating in La Salle, Illinois, and eventually in 1857 coming to Dubuque. The father was an architect and fol- lowed that business successfully until his death in 1884, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife passed away in 1873, aged sixty- one years. The early education of John I. Mullany was acquired in the parochial schools of Dubuque, and this was supplemented by a course in the College of Our Lady of Angels, now Niagara (New York) University. He then took up the study of law in the office of John H. O'Neill and H. B. Fouke, well known lawyers of Dubuque, now deceased, and later embarked in the general practice of that profession on his own account. From 1873 to 1883 he was thus successfully engaged in Dubuque and Clinton, Iowa, but then, owing to failing health, retired from active participation in business affairs. In 1886 Mr. Mullany was appointed deputy clerk of the district court of Dubuque county, and for twenty years honorably and creditably filled this position.
In 1907, in partnership with Mr. Hugh Stuart. he again took up the general practice of law in Dubuque, securing offices in the Bank and Insurance building, and has since been actively and successfully engaged in his profession. Politically Mr. Mullany is a Democrat ; he served for twelve years as a member of the board of education. He is a Catholic in religion and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Mullany is regarded as a ready writer, has written for the Catholic Encyclopedia and contributes occasionally to periodicals.
On May 3, 1877, he was married at Dubuque to Miss Agnes C. Murphy, daughter of Michael B. and Margaret S. Murphy, early settlers of Chicago, Illinois, and to them were born seven children. One, Joseph, dying in infancy, and the others: Robert E., traveling auditor for the Transcontinental Freight Bureau, of San Francisco; Grace C., librarian of the Clinton (Iowa) public library, died December 1, 1910; Retta, wife of Dr. Charles E. Loizeaux, of Dubuque ; Blanche S., librarian of the Dubuque high school library ; Marc Hutchinson, a student at St. Joseph College, Dubuque, and Jean C., attending St. Joseph Academy, at Dubuque. The family reside at 60 West Locust street, and they rank socially and intel- lectually among the leading people of the city.
HENRY VORWALD, living retired from the active cares of business at Dyersville since 1909, was born in Iowa City, Iowa, October 5, 1850, the son of Francis and Anna ( Sherbrock ) Vorwald. Francis Vorwald was a native of Hanover, Germany, but immigrated to this
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country in 1830, and for several years resided in various places. In 1843 ine located in Johnson county, Iowa, where he pre-empted a quarter section of land from the government. Inheriting the thrift and industry proverbial with the German people, hie set to work clearing and improving his place, and adding thereto until he owned nearly 400 acres. This he sold and in 1851 moved to Dubuque county and bought a 160-acre farm in Liberty township. This he increased in value by improvement and in extent by the addition of another 160 acres. For twenty years, in conjunction with farming. he taught school, and many men and women now living in Dubuque county remember him as their early preceptor. He died at Dyers- ville in 1883, at the age of seventy years, preceded by his wife in 1855, when thirty-eight years old. Henry Vorwald received his education in the district schools of Liberty township, finishing with a course in Francescan College, at Quincy, Illinois. When sixteen years old he left college and for three years worked with his brothers, Frank and John, then rented his father's farm of 160 acres, which he operated for some years. In 1872 he purchased eighty acres in Delaware county, Iowa, and also eighty acres in another locality, selling both these properties in 1886 and buying 230 acres in Colony township, Delaware county. To this last tract he added from time to time until he became the owner of 472 acres. Here Mr. Vorwald resided many years, but desiring to rest front the hard work he had endured so long and wishing to be back among his old friends once more, he finally located in Dyersville, where he at present enjoys the quiet restfulness of a competency. He is a Roman Catholic in religion, a Democrat in politics and in addition to his large real estate holdings is a stockholder and director of the Farmers' State Bank of Dyersville. April 19, 1870, he married Miss Abbie Griffith, daughter of George and Sadie Griffith, old homestead pioneers of this locality who died in 1888, aged sixty- three years, and in 1889, aged seventy-two years, respectively. To Mr. and Mrs. Vorwald twelve children have been born, one dying unnamed and the other in infancy named August. Those living are as follows: Anna, the wife of Henry Bockenstedt, farmer of Dela- ware county : Frank S., stock dealer at Kennebick, South Dakota; George J., a farmer of Clayton county, Iowa ; Clara, who married C. J. Bockenstedt, of Delaware county; Rose, married Henry Wernke, farmer, residing in Delaware county ; Ida, now Mrs. Frank Koelker, who farms near Bloomington, Wisconsin; Edward H., a farmer near Guttenberg. Clayton county, Iowa; William T., also farmer of Clayton county, Iowa, and Henry M. and Charles A., who operate the old homestead in Delaware county. Mr. Vorwald has ever been considered a valuable citizen, no matter where he lived, but in Dubuque county he and wife are especially highly esteemed and respected for their many excellent neighborly qualities.
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LORENZ HAUER, retired from active business and residing at 1461 Jackson street, Dubuque, since August, 1910, was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, June 12, 1840, the son of Isidor and Agatha Hauer, both of whom died in the old country. He received his education in the German public schools, and while yet a young man immigrated to America, via New Orleans, locating at St. Louis, Missouri. For a time he worked at various occupa- tions, and when civil war threatened the disruption of the Union he was one of the first to respond to President Lincoln's call for volunteers. He enlisted in Company C. First Missouri Volunteers, and participated in a number of battles. At the battle of Wilson's Creek he was badly wounded, suffering the loss of a leg, and at the conclusion of that year was honorably discharged by the war depart- ment of the United States government. In 1862. being unfit for further active service, he came to Dubuque and learned cigar mak- ing, and was in the employ of Charles Luther for nine years. In 1871 he embarked in that line of business on his own account and continued thuis successfully until his retirement in 1910. Mr. Hauer is a Republican in his political views and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. To his marriage with Miss Margaret Colling, solemnized in Dubuque June 26, 1866, twelve children were born. nine of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Lorenz, Jr., bookkeeper for Louis Lang, and married to Miss Susie Glab, a daughter of Francis and Margaret Glab, pioneers of Dubuque, and has one son, Louis : Anna, the wife of Henry Wilberding, merchant tailor of Dubuque, had fourteen children, three of whom died, and Magdalena, who married Charles Wilberding, a merchant tailor of Cincinnati, Ohio, and has four children. Mr. Hatier is one of Dubuque's good citizens and bears the respect of all who know him.
MICHAEL STRONCK, and Margaretha, his wife, were among the pioneer farmers of Dubuque county, and by reason of their exem- plary lives were esteemed among the best citizens. They were natives of Luxemburg, Germany, immigrating to the United States in 1854, and coming direct to this county located on a tract of 120 acres near Holy Cross, Concord township. At this time five acres only were partly improved, the balance being in a state of nature. With commendable courage Mr. and Mrs. Stronck began work on this place, undergoing the many hardships and inconveniences of pioneer life, gradually improving their property as means permitted and identifying themselves with their neighbors in the social and religious conditions of the time. Mr. Stronck became one of the foremost men of his locality. He was a Democrat in politics and served as township trustee and as a member of the board of educa- tion. On November 12, 1884, he died, at the age of seventy-four vears, and was buried in the cemetery at Luxemburg. Mrs. Stronck died in 1873, when sixty-four years old, and is buried at
Charlekretschmer,
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Holy Cross. They were the parents of three children: Annie, who married John Engles and died at Cassville, Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1891 ; Appolonia, married John Scharf and died at Elmwood, Kansas, in 1894, and Peter, a sketch of whom is herewith added.
Peter Stronck was born at Luxemburg, Germany, December 3, 1849, and when five years old was brought to this country by his parents. He assisted in the work of the home farm and attended the parochial school at Holy Cross until the age of eighteen years. Since then he has made farming his occupation, at which he has met with more than ordinary success. He is the owner of 360 acres of land which is considered one of the model farms of Dubuque county. This he has splendidly improved with serviceable buildings, orchards and stocked with the best grades of domestic animals. In addition to this he is a stockholder in the bank at Dyersville, and recently has acquired a farmi of 160 acres near Dubuque. He is a Democrat, has served as township trustee and secretary of the board of education, is a Catholic in religion and a member of the Mutual Protective Association. At Luxemburg. Iowa, on February 30, 1872, he married Miss Mary Duster. The parents of Mrs. Stronck were Peter and Catharine Duster, old settlers of this com- munity, who died in 1880 and 1896, respectively, and were buried at Luxemburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Stronck five children have been born, named: Catharina, the widow of John Schneider; Peter P., operating one of his father's farms; Anthon, who is also farming one of his father's properties ; Maggie, the wife of Frank Thomas, a farmer of Table Mound township, and Barbara, who married Frank D. Meyers, farmer, and resides in New Wine township. Having accumulated a competency, Mr. Stronck decided to retire from active participation in farm work, and accordingly, in 1908, moved into Dyersville, which has since been his home. Mrs. Stronck died June 2, 1906, and lies buried at Luxemburg.
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