Mathias Jülich [Juelich], 1899 Biography

JÜLICH, JUELICH, DUNG, BERGER, THIEMANN, THELEN, PAPE

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/15/2006 at 00:26:54

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:

Mathias Jülich [Juelich]

The family of Mr. Mathias Jülich in Carroll Township [now Maple River Township] is also among the most well-known German-American families, and Mr. Jülich is widely respected due to his honesty and integrity. He was born on 25 September 1844 in Altenburg, County of Ahrweiler, Germany. He spent his early childhood and received his early education in his hometown. In 1855, his parents immigrated to America and stayed first with friends near Chicago. In the following spring, the family moved to Lyons, Clinton County, Iowa, where young Mathias then received further schooling. When his school days were over, the young man worked in a sawmill, and on 2 April 1869, he married Miss Julia Dung, a respected and estimable young lady. The young couple lived another year in Lyons, and then they moved to a farm, which was about 12 miles from the town. In 1877, Mr. Jülich and his family moved to Carroll Township, Carroll County, where he purchased a farm, and the family has lived there up to the present day. Later, in addition to the 120-acre parcel, he purchased another 40 acres, and also 480 acres in Antelope County, Nebraska, so that his entire real estate consists of 640 acres of the finest land, which is equipped with good, solid buildings.

Mr. Jülich had [first] come to Iowa [perhaps meaning western Iowa] in 1866, where he found employment on the railroad line that was to be built. At first, he did the work from where the town of Carroll now stands up to Tip Top, the present Arcadia. At that time, as he relates to us, the heavy posts used in the railroad bridges were pounded [into the ground?] in present Grant Township. He liked the area extremely well, and so he then began to form the plan of settling here, which he carried out following a later visit in the above-mentioned year [probably referring to 1877].

This happy marriage was blessed with 15 children, 6 sons and 9 daughters, all of whom are in good health. The names of the children are: Maria, wife of Mr. Martin Berger; Joseph, living in Nebraska and married to Elise Thiemann; Heinrich, a partner in the business of Berger & Jülich in Mt. Carmel; Katharina, wife of Mr. Nick. Thelen; Engelbert, living in Nebraska and married to Maria Pape; Josephina; Franziska; Margaretha; Leo; Anna; Fritz and Lena, twins; Carl; Clara; and Julia.