Cretzmeyer, Stephen

GISHPERT, CHAFFENBURG, BAKER

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/12/2010 at 13:37:52

Among the many sturdy, industrious and enterprising citizens whom Germany has given to America is numbered Stephen Cretzmeyer, who has long been connected with agricultural interests of Bremer county as the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Washington township. He is, moreover, entitled to representation in this volume as a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in Germany in 1838 and is a son of Wendoline and Kate Cretzmeyer, also natives of that country. The parents came to America in 1847 and settled in New York state, where they resided for six years. In 1852 they moved to Iowa and located on the present site of the town of Waverly. The father purchased ten acres of land and resided upon this property until his death, which occurred four years thereafter. His wife survived him many years, dying at the age of seventy-five. Three children were born to their union: Stephen, of this review; Henry, of Waverly; and Frank, a resident of Waterloo.

Stephen Cretzmeyer came to Iowa with his parents when he was fourteen years of age and remained at home until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company C., Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. After two years he reenlisted in and served to the end of the war, being promoted first to the rank of corporal and then to that of sergeant. In July, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, and returned home, joining his two brothers in the operation of a brick-manufacturing plant, in which he was interested for twelve or fifteen years thereafter. Eventually he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, buying ninety-seven acres of the farm which he now owns. He has since increased this to one hundred and twenty acres and has the entire property in a high state of cultivation, reflecting the many years of care and labor which he has bestowed upon it.

On November 3, 1872, Mr. Cretzmeyer was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Gishpert, a native of Rockford, Illinois, and a daughter of John and Barbara Gishpert, both of whom were born in Germany. After their marraige they came to America and settled in Illinois, whence in 1863 they moved to Iowa. The father died in Waverly nine months later and his wife survived him until 1912, passing away when she was eighty-eight years of age. To their union were born seven children, of whom five still survive. Mr. and Mrs. Cretzmeyer became the parents of fourteen children: George, who was born January 29, 1874 and is now engaged in the painting business in Waterloo; Catherine, who was born January 14, 1876, and who married Charley Chaffenburg, of Cedar Falls; Barbara, who was born September 22, 1877; Caroline, who was born March 5, 1879; and is now a Sister of Charity in St. Louis, Missouri; William, whose birth occurred February 18, 1881, and who now resides in Bremer county; Peter M., born June 29, 1883; Cecilia E., who was born October 28, 1885, and who married Roy Baker, of Bremer county, by whom she has a son, Robert Joseph; Aloysius, who was born September 22, 1887, and who has passed away; Imelda, who was born July 13, 1889, and now resides in Waverly; Rebecca, of Bremer county; Minnie and Martha, twins, who were born April 5, 1893; Albert, whose birth occurred December 26, 1894; and Edward, who was born November 9, 1896, and who has passed away. Mr. Cretzmeyer is a member of the Roman Catholic church and is connected fraternally with the Grand Army of the Republic. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and, while he is not an office seeker, has always been interested in public affairs. He is numbered among the pioneers of Bremer county, his residence here dating from 1853 and during the intervening period he has made many substantial contributions to community development and growth.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol.II 1914