MATTHEW TSCHIRGI 1824-1903

TSCHIRGI

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 4/29/2016 at 11:07:00

MATTHEW TSCHIRGI who is now living a retired life in Dubuque enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves was born in Canton St Gall Switzerland in October 1824. His parents Matthew and Agahtha Capirell Tschirgi were both natives of the same country and there spent their entire lives In the public schools of Switzerland our subject was educated and in his father's brewery learned the brewing business becoming thoroughly familiar with it in all its departments. Having heard much of the advantages and privileges afforded young men in the New World he determined to test the truth of these reports on attaining his majority and in 1845 crossed the ocean to New Orleans. He then worked on a steamer in order to pay his passage to St. Louis where he worked in a brewery for two months. He then came up the Mississippi to Dubuque and established the first brewery in the state of Iowa conducting the same until 1886 when he laid aside business cares and retired to private life. He had a large trade and although he began operations on a small scale steadily increased his facilities to meet the growing demand Mr. Tschirgi was married in Dubuque in 1848 Miss Catherine Zollicoffer becoming his wife. Her father George Zollicoffer became one of the pioneer settlers of Dubuque of 1834. In their family were nine children seven of whom are yet five sons and two daughters, Matthew who is now President of the Dubuque Construction Company, John who is Superintendent of the Dubuque Milling Company, Katie wife of Frank Jaeger a capitalist, Louisa wife of Jacob Traut a merchant of this city and George Arnold and Frank who are all living in Wyoming. The mother of this family is a member of the Lutheran Church. In connection with his other interests Mr. Tschirgi has dealt to a considerable extent in real estate and erected a great many residences. In 1873 he crossed the water to Vienna and attended the Brewers Convention being sent as a delegate by the United States Brewers Association. He remained abroad for three months during which time he visited his old home in Switzerland. He is now well advanced in years but yet enjoys good health being well preserved both mentally and physically In politics he acts independently.

THE HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY, IOWA
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