LUSCH, John C. 1839-1910

LUSCH

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/12/2019 at 10:39:28

John C. Lusch Dead

Prominent Banker At Ackley Died Monday

Was Brother Of A. T. Lusch, Dubuque

Has Been Prominent in the Political and Financial Affairs of Iowa for the Past Forty Years

The friends in Dubuque and throughout this section of the state will learn with much regret of the death of John C. Lusch, of Ackley, brother of A. T. Lusch, president of the Iowa Trust and Savings bank, of Dubuque, which occurred Monday afternoon.

Mr. Lusch, who was Ackley's most prominent man, was recognized as one of the leading men of Iowa and the middle west. He typified the ideal Iowan in his vigor, his physique, his manner and the success he has had in life. He has lived in Ackley forty years and by his industry, foresight and business acumen he carved out of the resources and opportunities of that section a splendid fortune. His pride and pleasure was in his home city, and he was identified with the movements for its advancement and development. He was a frequent visitor to Dubuque and number among its representative people friends with whom he had been on intimate terms for years.

Particulars Of His Death
The particulars of his death are given by the Times-Journal's correspondent at Ackley, as follows:
John C. Lusch, known as one of the prominent bankers of northeastern Iowa, died at his home in this city Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, after an illness that extended through several weeks. A few weeks ago he had submitted to a surgical operation at a Dubuque hospital--he had been troubled with hernia and sought relief. Returning home here he improved slowly, but within the last week his condition weakened and the end came Monday.

Mr. Lusch had been a resident of Ackley for forty years; he was a native of Germany and came to America with his parents, first locating at Waterloo. Since the early 70's he had been engaged in the banking business here, at the head of the First National. In the early days, in addition to the live stock business, he was engaged in the lumber and grain business. In those years farmers for twenty-five miles around delivered their grain here. He also had elevators at Wellsburg, Cleves and Faulkner. He founded the bank of Wellsburg and his real estate holding were large.

Mr. Lusch never married and his surviving relatives are a brother, A. T. Lusch, engaged in the banking business at Dubuque, a brother and sister residing at Reinbeck. He was a thirty-second degree Mason, a Shriner and a prominent democrat up to 1896, when free silver became an issue, and h supported Palmer and Buckner, the nominees of the gold standard wing of the party. His counsel was sought in business lines and he was a man of influence. In the 80's he served as mayor of Ackley and could have had political favors for the taking, but would never give his consent to serve, preferring to confine his energies to his individual business affairs and community matters. He had traveled extensively through Europe, had visited Egypt, Turkey and other countries, returning only a few months ago from Australia.

His parents are buried at Waterloo and it is there that his remains will be interred Wednesday.

--Dubuque Times Journal (Dubuque, Iowa), 25 January 1910, pg 7

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John Lusch Dead

John C. Lusch, one of the best known business men of Ackley, and president of the First National bank of that place died at his home this week of cancer of the liver. He was one of the oldest business men of that place and has been there since about 1868, settling originally upon coming to this country in Black Hawk county, near Waterloo. He was one of the early lumber and grain merchants of Waterloo, and nearly all his life has been interested either directly or indirectly in the lumber and grain business. He and his brother named the town of Reinbeck, in Grundy county, giving the town the name of their birthplace, Reinbeck, Germany.

A private funeral service was held Thursday at his late residence conducted by Rev. Johnson of the Presbyterian church and the remains were taken to Waterloo for burial.

--The Semi-Weekly Herald (Eldora, Iowa), 28 January 1910, pg 1