Fred. Caspary, 1900 Biography

CASPARY, SIMONS

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/22/2006 at 23:55:50

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:

Fred. Caspary

The bearer of this name is among the best-known and most respected German-Americans of Carroll County, and he runs a large and successful business in grain, coal, and lumber in Maple River Junction, the next town west of Carroll.

Mr. Caspary was born on 18 October 1856 in Altenahr, County of Ahrweiler, Germany. He first attended elementary school in his hometown, and then he attended the gymnasium [advanced high school] in Muenstereifel, District of Cologne. In 1875, he entered the Prussian Army as a one-year volunteer, and after he honorably completed his service, Mr. Caspary remained with his parents until 1879, assisting his father in a wine business. He then made a visit to the United States of North America, and the Caspary family crossed the ocean in the following year. Mr. Fred. Caspary’s parents settled a mile west of Maple River Junction where they acquired a fine farm and have been engaged in farming since then. On 29 September 1885, Mr. F. Caspary married Miss Josephine Simons, and in the following year he founded the above-mentioned business in Maple River Junction. For the last year and a half, he has been a stockholder in the German Bank of Carroll County.