Bernard Greteman, 1899 Biography

GRETEMAN, SCHMITT

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/14/2004 at 19:28:07

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:

B. Gretemann

Mr. Gretemann was born in St. Lucas, Fayette County, Iowa, on 4 April 1866, to honest and Christian people who provided their intelligent son Bernard a good education. Here he bustled about in the exuberance of youth, attending the parochial school with his spelling book under his arm. He was an industrious and well-behaved student, which pleased his parents as well as the nuns. Of course, the happiest time for little Bernard was when his First Holy Communion approached. After adequate instruction, he received the Bread of Life from the good pastor. During this period of time he assisted his father in running the family farm until he was 21 years old. He then entered the employment of the Union Telephone Co. and, after a year, relocated to Roselle Township, Carroll County, Iowa, where he was employed for half a year with Mr. C. Kohorst. Then he worked for four years as a teacher in Pleasant Valley Township. In 1888, he joined with his brother, Mr. Frank Gretemann, and erected a general merchandise store in the little town of Willey. While his brother Frank conducted the business, he worked one more year as an elementary school teacher.

On 10 November 1891, he married Miss Anna Schmitt, a well-brought-up and respectable young woman, who was born in St. Lucas on 8 November 1865.

In the following year, Mr. Bernard Gretemann took over the business on his own, and since 1890 he has served as Postmaster of Willey. Within a year of taking over the business, he had to enlarge the store area with an addition because the business had experienced an unexpected boom. As he enlarged the space for the business, he also increased his inventory, so that today the business is among the most notable in the county, and the abundance of inventory leaves nothing to be desired. This significant success alone speaks to the quality of merchandise and the honesty of the management. The residents of Willey and Pleasant Valley Township have long understood that it is unnecessary to do their shopping in Carroll or other large towns. In the substantial business of Mr. Gretemann they can shop just as cheaply and receive quality as good as in any better store in a large city. Therein they have the benefit of being able to rely on the respectability of Mr. Gretemann, who is always ready to please his customers. In order to supply a long-standing need, he has been renting the business space across the street since last year, and here stocks a selection of farm machines and implements, oils and paints. In truth, the business of Mr. B. Gretemann is a very solid one that enjoys the support of all the residents of Willey and the surrounding area.

NOTES: I think the family name is usually spelled “Greteman” with one “n.” There is another biography of Mr. Greteman in: Paul MacLean, History of Carroll County, Iowa, Vol. II (Chicago: S.J. Clark Pub. Co. 1912), p. 66.