Schroeder, James 1832 - 1907

SCHROEDER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 5/12/2019 at 10:17:04

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 17 Oct. 1907. Guttenberg column.

After a residence in Guttenberg and vicinity of fifty-three years, during which time he has ever been prominent in town and township affairs Postmaster James Schroeder passed away at his home in this city at 10:30 o'clock Monday morning from heart failure, aged 74 years, 8 months and 24 days. He had been a long time sufferer from asthma which has so steadily weakened nature's forces and drained his vitality that heart failure was the ultimate result. As his years advanced the dreaded affliction - asthma - became more acute in form, incapacitating him to a great extent for his accustomed labors. For the past year Mr. Schroeder has been seen but little outside the confines of home, the ailment causing him to remain indoors the greater part of the time. He was possessed of a rugged constitution and was also a man of strong mental faculties, both of which were in evidence to the last and were entirely essential in life's long battle for supremacy over the dread affliction. The end came only as the last spark of vitality became exhausted in his once strong physique.

James Schroeder was born at Steinsel, in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, January 13, 1832. Leaving there for America when twenty years of age he arrived here the same year of his disembarkation from the Fatherland. After two years, which he spent mostly in New York, Illinois and Minnesota, he came to Guttenberg and after a residence of one year in town engaged in farming in this township.

He was married at Elkader Feb 5, 1867. He continued at farm life until March 1, 1880, when he returned to town to reside. It was while he was engaged in farming that he received the appointment as postmaster and has held the office uninterruptedly since except the four years during President Cleveland's last administration.

In 1862 he was appointed to the office of assistant revenue collector for the Third District of Iowa which he held five years. At various times for a number of years he has held the offices of justice of the peace, township clerk, township assessor and county supervisor. In educational matters he always manifested a keen interest and for fifteen years served as a member of the local board of education.

Soon after his arrival in this country Mr. Schroeder began taking an active interest in politics and chose to follow the republican party, which at that time had arrayed itself against the tolerance of slavery. The party for this reason in particular found a warm spot in his heart and since then he had been closely identified with it. During his residence in Illinois previous to coming to Guttenberg he assisted for a time in work on the famous "Under Ground Railway" which was used for the purpose of liberating slaves from bondage.

After taking up residence in Clayton county his interest in politics and the republican party brought him into prominence and he was chosen a number of times chairman of the county central committee. Prior to and during this time a warm friendship existed between William B. Allison and Mr. Schroeder and after the former had been elected United States senator through his influence Mr. Schroeder received the appointment as postmaster.

Deceased was the organizer of the Union League in Clayton county and since has remained a most active member.

The long term of years he served as postmaster was evidence of his capability for the position and his absolute exactness and honesty in handling the affairs has given entire satisfaction to the postoffice department and patrons of the office as well. The same may be spoken of him as regards the numerous other positions occupied by him during his lifetime.

Deceased was a consistent, valued and honored member of the I.O.O.F. and was a charter member of Germania Encampment No. 105. He held different offices in the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows and was elected Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment in 1897. He was also a member of Guttenberg Lodge No. 126, Josephine Rebekah Lodge No. 7, Jefferson Lodge No. 129 A.O.U.W., and also a member of the Guttenberg Turnverein.

As a member of the order of Odd Fellows he has held office in Guttenberg Lodge No. 126 since its birth, July 2, 18_1 (looks like 1861), having been its secretary almost uninterruptedly for thirty-six years resigning the office not quite two years ago.

Owing to his illness deceased had been forced the past two years to give up one-by-one his interests in affairs in which he had heretofore taken a most active part and turn over to another the responsibilities he had guarded so zealously for a greater or lesser time and his almost lifelong career in office, federal, city and fraternal, ends untarnished.

Mr. Schroeder had been thrice married. Surviving him besides his last wife are the following children: Fremont Schroeder, Guttenberg; H. H. Schroeder, principal of schools, Whitewater, Wis.; Attorney Baldwin Schroeder, St. Paul, Minn.; Anna, school teacher at Muscoda, Wis.; Bertha, teacher in the schools of Manchester, Ia.; and Josephine, Jennie and Hulda, at homme.

The funeral was held at 2:00 o'clock yesterday (Thursday) from late residence of deceased on Front Street and was conducted under the auspices of Guttenberg Lodge No. 126, I.O.O.F. In attendance were members of the order from the various lodges in the county, who were present to pay their last respects to a departed brother. Aside from the lodge members there were many old friends of the deceased from out of town present to pay their tribute of respect. Through order of the president of the board of education the public schools were closed during the afternoon as a mark of respect for deceased and in recognition of the services rendered the schools by him during his many years' connection with educational affairs of the city and township.

An address in the German language was delivered at the residence by Attorney Chas. E. Scholz in which he reviewed the life of deceased, eulogizing his good traits of character and recalling to the memories of those present perhaps many forgotten deeds of kindness toward his fellow men. Mr. Scholz also spoke at the grave, delivering his address in English.

The funeral procession was one of the largest that has ever passed through the streets of Guttenberg. Interment of the remains was made in the family lot in the City cemetery.