Jakob Daczewitz, 1899 Biography

DACZEWITZ, ZOBEL

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/22/2006 at 23:53:42

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:

Jakob Daczewitz

The bearer of this name was born on 7 August 1846 in Pirklitz, County of Stuh, District of Marienwerder, Germany. After he finished school, he learned the trade of wagonmaker, and he then laced up his knapsack and traveled through Poland, Russia, and Germany. In 1870, he was called into the military, and during his service he worked with a mechanic company in an artillery workshop. When the war with France [Franco-Prussian War] ended, Mr. Daczewitz made his way to England. He worked there for four months, and then made his way to the United States of North America. He sent for his wife, Miss Clara Zobel, whom he had married in February 1871, to follow him to America, and until 1875 he worked in various large American cities, such as Boston, New York, Chicago, and Milwaukee. He then came out to the West and settled in Carroll, Iowa, where he set up in business. He suffered a total loss in the big fire of 1878, but bravely began again and was rewarded with success. He later purchased a lot north of Burke’s Hotel, where he built a wagonmaking and blacksmith shop. In 1892, he built a solid business building on Main Street, and in 1898 he built a splendid residence.

The exemplary marriage was blessed with six children, of which, however, only three are still living: Martha, Clara, and Maria.

NOTES: The big Carroll fire was in 1879, not 1878 as stated in the article. The town of Pirklitz might be the town of Perklice, which is in Poland today. Also, the county name was probably Stuhm.