Joseph Wiedemeier, 1899 Biography

WIEDEMEIER, THIELKE

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/12/2006 at 13:18:28

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. Information in brackets and notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Joseph Wiedemeier

The very fine portrait shows Mr. Wiedemeier and his spouse, who have lived in Carroll since 1888. In that year, he and a partner purchased a business building in Carroll, and since then they have been among the best businesspeople in Carroll. At first they operated a successful tavern in the above-mentioned building. During this time, his oldest son Joseph had learned the mercantile trade, and so he sold his interest in the tavern and building, and he and his sons Joseph and Anton started a dry goods and grocery store on Fifth Street, which they operated with great success. The store building is 100 feet long and 25 feet wide and is located in the main business district of the town. The interior layout of the store is quite comfortable and indicates the practical knowledge of the owners. The various goods are nicely displayed and artistically arranged. Modern women’s dress material, fine Brussels carpets, very fine lace curtains and draperies immediately greet the eyes of the visitor. But the large inventory also includes all sorts of men’s accessories, as well as a large selection of shoes, boots, and groceries. Mr. Anton Wiedemeier is a woodcarving artist, and a “button case” which he made is protected by a patent. He also fashioned other very fine articles for the business, and the store may be considered a model business. In particular, he works in framing pictures, and he does very fine work. Indeed, one can say that Mr. Joseph Wiedemeier, and his sons Joseph and Anton, conduct a reliable and honest business. The senior member of the business was born in Entrup, near Nieheim, Westphalia, on 23 September 1844. As a young man he learned the trade of mason, at which he worked for seven years. On 18 June 1870, he married Miss Veronika Thielke from Eversen, near Nieheim, who was born on 28 September 1848. Right after the wedding, the young couple immigrated to North America and settled in Carroll, Iowa. Mr. Wiedemeier quickly purchased an 80-acre farm and sought employment on the Northwestern Railroad. After a year, he and his wife moved to their previously-purchased farm and in 1876, he purchased another 114 acres. Two years later, his wife and two children made a visit to Germany, and on their return he purchased another 88 acres. Mr. Wiedemeier served one term on the town council, and he and his family are widely popular and respected.