Emil Bilharz

BILHARZ, SPEAS, MOORE, DAWSON

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/13/2009 at 11:43:07

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

page 713

EMIL BILHARZ, an active business man
of Audubon, has been identified with
the town since the spring of 1879. He
was born in Baden, Germany, October 20,
1845, and emigrated to America when he was
nine years of age; his parents came to this
country at the same time; they were on the
water thirty days, and landed at the city of
New York; from New York they went to
Ottawa, Illinois, where they settled; here
the father died two years later; he was a har-
ness-maker by trade. The mother, Maria
(Speas) Bilharz, died in Ottawa in her forty-
third year; she was also a native of Baden,
Germany. There were ten children in the
family, six of whom survive. Emil was the
fourth child. After coming to this country
he spent his youth in Ottawa, Illinois. At
the age of nineteen years he entered a store
in Seneca, Illinois, as clerk; here he remained
several years, and acquired a very thorough
knowledge of the business. He then re-
moved to Audubon, Iowa, where he estab-
lished himself in business, first in a general
store, and later he kept a restaurant for
several years. In 1886 he opened a grocery
store with a large and well-selected stock,
and he is now firmly fixed in Audubon busi-
ness circles. Mr. Bilharz was married in
1871 to Miss Emma Moore, of La Salle
County, Illinois, a native of Pennsylvania,
who came to Illinois with her parents at an
early day. At her death she left two children
--- Edward F. and Hattie May. Mr. Bilharz
married his present wife in 1887; she was
Miss Mary Dawson, of Audubon, a native of
Canada. No children have been born by this
marriage. Mr. Bilharz owns a farm in Leroy
Township, one in Melville Township, and one
in Cameron Township; he also owns three
good business houses which he rents. He
began his career without means, and by in-
dustry and wise management he has accumu-
lated a good property. He is a member of
Seneca Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; Amity Chap-
ter, No. 93, Audubon, and of Godfrey Com-
mandery, No. 44, Audubon. Mr. Bilharz's son
is a student at Grinnell College, Iowa.