Eberhard Gretemann, 1899 Biography

GRETEMANN, GRETEMAN, HOFFMANN, HOFFMAN, KLOESENER, BACKER, HAUSMANN, SPITZ

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 2/15/2004 at 17:59:24

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. I have not changed the place or name spellings, but I have added some notes at the end. It reads as follows:

Eberhard Gretemann
This gentleman was born in Neukarnitz, jurisdiction of Nieberg, administrative district of Prussian Minden, on 26 May 1846. When he was 5 years old he immigrated to America with his parents, but during the trip the family suffered a heavy blow from fate. A murderous cholera outbreak occurred aboard the ship, and Mr. E. Gretemann’s dear mother and also a brother were taken by the sickness, whereupon they and many other deceased passengers found a watery grave at sea. His father then settled down in O’Plain, a small town twelve miles from Chicago, where the old gentleman worked as a hired man. After about three years his father moved to Fayette County, Iowa, where he devoted himself to farming, and little Eberhard attended school and received his First Holy Communion. He now helped his father in running the farm, and assisted until his father died on 20 November 1867. He worked another year for other farmers, and then married a respectable young woman, Elisabeth Kloesener, who also had been born in Neuckarnitz on 5 December 1845. The young couple rented a farm in Winneshiek County, and in 1879 they moved to Pleasant Valley Township, Carroll County, where they purchased 80 acres of prairie. Small was their start and small was the first little house where they lived happily and peacefully, but little by little they worked with God’s blessing and untiring diligence. At first they purchased another 20 acres, and then an additional 40 acres. They also purchased another 80 acres in Minnesota for their son, and built on their farm assorted buildings such as barns, stables, storehouses, and a beautiful large residence. The Gretemann family are honest Germans who enjoy the respect of all their acquaintances. Ten children are the fruit of this Christian marriage, namely: Maria, Mrs. Jos. Hoffmann; Heinrich, married to Anna Backer; Anna, Mrs. Joh. Hausmann; Johann; Franziska, Mrs. Jos. Spitz in Minn.; Katherina; Anton; Eberhard; Bernhard; and Frank.

Notes: The family names Gretemann and Hoffmann were spelled in the article with a double “n” but I think today the families use only one “n” at the end. The name Kloesener is spelled sometimes with an initial “C” in some sources. There does not appear to be a German town anywhere called “Neukarnitz” or “Neuckarnitz” as spelled in the article. I am reasonably certain that it refers to “Neukaunitz,” a village which today is part of the town of Verl, south of Bielefeld, and just east of Guetersloh.