Henry Schroeder

SCHROEDER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/26/2010 at 11:50:35

Henry Schroeder is proprietor of a large grocery store and meat market in Boone. Watchful of all indications pointing to success, he has so conducted his affairs that substantial returns have occurred and he is now one of the prosperous merchants of the city. His birth occurred in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, September 17, 1847, his parents being Henry and Katrina (Lentz) Schroeder, who were also natives of that country. When nineteen years of age Henry Schroeder of this review left Germany in company with his brother Andrew Schroeder, then seventeen years of age, and sailed for the new world in 1867. Later the parents of our subject also crossed the Atlantic and came to Iowa, settling at Wheatland, Clinton county, where their two sons had preceded them. The father was a farmer by occupation, devoting his entire life to the work of tilling the fields. Unto him and his wife were born six children: John deceased, Hans who died in Britt, Iowa February 8, 1914, Adolph, who was a fireman on the Northwestern Railroad and was killed in an accident in 1882, leaving a widow and five children, residents of Boone, Victoria Elizabeth, the wife of Peter Umland, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Henry of this review, and Andrew who is living at Rushmore, Minnesota.
When Henry and Andrew Schroeder reached he new world their combined cash capital consisted of but eleven cents. It had taken them seven weeks and five days to cross the ocean, so slow was the sailing vessel on which they were passengers. Their financial condition rendered immediate employment a necessity and they hired out to a diary farmer of New Jersey, working for ten dollars per month. On leaving he east Henry Schroeder made his was to Wheatland, Iowa, covering a distance on foot from Davenport, thirty miles away. An uncle Andrew Lentz, lived in Wheatland, where he was proprietor of a brick and tile works. Mr Schroeder joined his uncle and afterward telegraphed for his brother in New York, who finally arrived upon the scene. Mr Schroeder was somewhat handicapped after coming to this state, for his health gave way and he was ill for five weeks. As soon as possible, however, he began work as a farm hand. It was in the following spring that the father arrived and a year later sent for the others of the family. IN the fall of 1869 Henry Schroeder came to Boone county, where he located upon a farm, where he lived until 1871. He rented 80 acres of land for a year, his brother Adolph and his wife taking up their abode with him, the lady managing the affairs of the household.
On August 14, 1871, Mr Schroeder was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Brugerman, who was a native of Germany and came to the United States in 1869. In the year of his marriage Mr Schroeder left the farm and removed to Boone, where he spent one year in the brewery of J E Herman. He then embarked in the butchering business on his own account and afterward added a stock of groceries. He now has one of the leading establishments in this city, conducting a large and growing trade. Many of his patrons have been with him through all the intervening years, a fact which indicates his honorable business dealing and his enterprising methods.
To Mr and Mrs Schroeder have been born six children: Andrew, who is now engaged in business with his father, Henry who is conducting a wholesale liquor house in Boone, Laura, the wife of J P Dougherty, of Colorado, Mary at home, John who died n September 1901, and Katrina at home. The family is well known in Boone, where they have an extensive circle of war friends. Their religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church and aside form his membership therein Mr Schroeder is also connected with the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically he is a democrat and has served on the city council. He stand for all that tends to promote the progress and up building of the city and has given active support and financial aid to many movements that have greatly furthered the interests of Boone. He is today one of older merchants of Boone and is justly accounted one of the self made men. His life history proves that enterprise and determination are a sure foundation upon which to build prosperity, for those are the qualities which he has employed in advancing toward his present enviable position as a business man.

1914 Boone County History Book