LEGEL, John G., Hon. (1859-1930)
LEGEL, DINKEL
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/15/2009 at 17:21:32
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Born: May 26, 1859 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of John G. Legel.
Died Dec. 17, 1930
Also see biography on Mr. Legel in the 1917 History of Floyd County book posted on the Floyd county IaGenWeb website at http://iagenweb.org/floyd )
[ OBITUARY IS FROM MASON CITY IOWA, THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 1930]
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John G. Legel was born at St. Louis Missouri, May 26, 1859, and died at his home at 213? South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa, December 17, 1930.
The family moved frm St. Louis to Clinton, Iowa, whee they lived for a time, after which they moved to Dubuque, Iowa. Here he graduated from the public school and entered the employ of Mr. Sieprecht, a druggist, where he learned the business.
In 1877 Mr. Legel, then a young man of nineteen, came to Charles City. Not finding work in his chosen profession, he worked on a farm for a while. Then he engaged in teaching school for a few terms. Later, as a druggist’s clerk, he entered the employ of Mr. Ed. Berg and became a registeed pharmacist.
In 1884, upon the death of Mr. Berg, he in partnership with William Herbrecht, purchased the store of Mr. Berg which they operated under the firm name of Legel & Hebrechtsmeyer.
In 1891 this partnership was dissolved by mutual consent and the firm became Legel & Andres. In 1895 Mr. Legel became the sole owner of the business and conducted it up to the present time.
Mr. Legel was an active member of the Lutheran church and as such served his church as its treasurer for nearly forty years. At the death of Rev. Caselman he was made the custodian of a $52,000 memorial gift left to the church, this without a bond and this appointment was later pproved by the District Court under Judge C. H. Kelley. When the Memorial church for which this fund was given was completed, Mr. Legel turned his $1200 fee as executor of the Caselman estate over to the church to be known as the “Legel Fund” the interest of which is to be used for benevolence purposes.From 1910 to 1914 Mr. Legel served as state senator from this disrict and for two years wa mayor of this city. He also served as alderman for twenty years. He was a member of the city library board for many years and as the president of that board laid the cone stone of the present library buiding. He served as trustee of the Cedar Valley hospital for severa years. At the time of his death he was a member of the board of park commissioners.
He was united in marriage with Miss Bertha C. Dinkel September 16, 1884. To this union four children were born, three of whom preceeded the father in death in infancy and early childhood. He is survived by his widow and one son, John and two half sisters, Mrs. Amelia Grimmels and Mrs. Carrie Bliss, both of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Mr. Legel was a member of the following fraternal orders social clubs. Of the Masonic bodies he was a member of St. Charle Lodge No. 141 and of the York Rite of Masons he was a member of Almond Chapter No. 53, Royal Arch Masons and of Joppa Commandry No. 55, Knights Templar. He was also a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry with a membeship in the De Molay Consistory No. 1, Valley of Clinton, Iowa, Southen Jursidiction of the United States of America, having taken his thirty-second degree of Masonry there. He also was a member of Excelsior Chapter No. 51, Order of Eastern Star and also belonged to the Shrine, both of which are Masonic organizations.
He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 418; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, National Lodge No 165 of Black Thorn Camp No. 220, Modern Woodmen of America and of the Independent Order of Forrestes. He was also a member of the Roatary club and of the Naturalist club.
John Legel was one of the most prominent business men of North-eastern Iowa and at the time of his death the oldest merchant in Charles City now engaged in business. He was a public spirited man, charitable, kind and always willing to carry the responsibilities of his business and to help share in carrying those of his community as well. He was a kind and loving husband and father, a generous and friendly neighbor and during his long years of experience had a wider acquaintance in this community than any other business man on our streets. He will be sadly missed by a large circle of friends.
--“John G. Legel,” Charles City Press, Charles City, Iowa (20 Dec 1930)
(Submitted by Merikay Mestad 2/2010)
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#3 of 4 items:(See a jpeg of another obituary by clicking on link below photo.)
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#4 of 4 items:PHOTO IS FROM THE 1917 HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY BOOK.
Click for complete obituary
Floyd Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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