Christ G. Daudel, b 20 Dec 1838

KAPPENHOEFER, GOEPERT

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 3/1/2004 at 08:02:08

Christ G. Daudel has for more than a decade been connected with the farming interests of Jackson County, as one of the most intelligent, skillful and practical agriculturists of Perry Township, where he owns and successfully manages a farm consisting of 200 acres of highly productive land. It is finely located on section 2, amid some of the most charming scenery in this vicinity, and is, indeed, a beautiful place in which to live.

Mr. Daudel is of German birth and parentage. His father, John Daudel, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, and was a blacksmith, having a smithy of his own, in which he manufactured plows, wagons, etc. He accumulated wealth, and had a fine, large residence in Shormdorf. His business engrossed his time until 1869, when he retired from active life, and is still living at the venerable age of eighty-four years. He has always been an active member of the Lutheran Church, and had led a truly Christian life. His wife was Catherine Kappenhoefer, born in Shormdorf, Germany. Her father, Tobias Kappenhoefer, was born in Germany, which was the birthplace of his father, Bocher Kappenhoefer. They were both blacksmiths, and the grandather of our subject became well-to-do in this world's good, retiring from business at the age of sixty three, though his life was prolonged until he was ninety-four years old. The mother of our subject died in Germany in 1875. She was a member of the Lutheran Church, and led an upright, Christian life. There were eight children born to her and her husband: Henry, Charles, Fred, Gotlieb C., Pauline, Mary, Louisa, and Christian.

The subject of this biographical sketch was born in Shormdorf, Nuremburg, Germany, Dec. 20, 1838. He was reared in town, and attended the public schools between the ages of six and fourteen, in accordance with the strict education laws of his county. From the time he left school until he was twenty-one he served an apprenticeship to his father to learn the blacksmith's trade. He began his travels, as was the custom, as a journeyman blacksmith. Nine months later he went to Saxony, and thence through the Prussian provinces and Mecklenburg, and saw many things of interest in his journeyings, for he kept his eyes open, was a good observer, and found much pleasure in visiting historical places, and seeing and amiring beautiful scenery. At Wittemburg he saw Luther's old house, also his monument, and that of the Lutheran fathers. He traveled extensively through Germany three years, and then visited Switzerland, in his opinion the most beautiful country in the world, and there he remained three years. At Zurich he was taken sick, and had to stay in a hospital two months. After leaving he returned home, where he remained three months, and then went to Baden, where he stayed seven weeks, again returning to his father's house for a few weeks.

Our subject had decided to turn his travels in another direction and visit the New World. Oct. 14, 1865, he left Hamburg on the steamer "Saxony," and after a story passage of seventeen days landed in New York. He proceeded to Buffalo, then to North Boston, N.Y., where he engaged in the blacksmith's trade with his uncle. The next spring he went by a lake steamer to Chicago, from there by rail to Saula, this county, thence on foot to Andrew, then to Dubuque, where he found employment at his trade. In the fall he engaged in blacksmithing in Andrew for his brother Henry, and subsequently entered into a partnership with him, which was continued until 1878, when our subject sold his share in the business. After retiring from that business Mr. Daudel bought his present place, having decided to turn his attention to farming, on account of ill health caused by overwork. His land was only partly improved, and he has since been busy in bringing it to its present advanced state of cultivation. It is situated amid beautiful scenery on the banks of Brush Creek, surrounded by a growth of large native timber, lovely cedar groves, etc., and containing a fine spring of water, pure and cold. It is fenced and about 100 acres are under admirable tillage. It is amply supplied with neat and tasty farm buildings. It is well stocked with graded Short-horns, hogs, and horses. Mr. Daudel makes a specialty of the latter, having nine head, two teams to work the farm, and a fine English coach stallion named London, weighing 1,500 pounds.

Mr. Daudel and Miss Elizabeth Goepert were united in marriage in September, 1870, in Tete des Morts Township. Mrs. Daudel was born in Saxony and came to the United States when a child. Her pleasant wedded life with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of six children - Christine, Anne, John, George, Pauline and Fred.

Mr. Daudel occupies a prominent position in the farming community of this portion of Jackson County. He is a frank, warm hearted man, gifted with firmness, sagacity, and foresight to a large degree, combined with good habits and right principles, so that he is accorded the highest respect by all about him. He is a member of the Lutheran Church at Andrew, and lives up to the Christian faith that he professes. He is deeply interested in the political affairs of his adopted country, took out his naturalization papers in 1870, and has since supported the Democratic party, although he is not radical in his views. He does not care to mingle in public life, although his fellow-citizens, recognizing in him the elements that fit a man for civic life, have solicited him to take office.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)