Hanke, Richard A.

HANKE, SCHAFFER, WENDT, SCHARF

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/12/2009 at 19:15:00

Richard A. Hanke, senior member of the hardware firm of Hanke & Scharf, of Newton, was born in Freeport, IL, January 8, 1867, and is the son of Frederick and Matilda (Schaffer) Hanke. His father was born in Schieder, Lippe-Detmold, Germany, in 1823, and came to America at the age of twenty years, settling in Freeport, IL, where he followed his trade of a stone mason, continuing to make his home there until his death in 1886. For many years he was engaged in the hardware business, and was a prosperous businessman, keen in discrimination and quick in decision.

Our subject's mother was born in Hoexter, Prussia, in 1835, and accompanied her parents to America; she died in Freeport in 1884. R. A. is the next to the youngest in a family of eight children, having four brothers and three sisters. Of the family we note the following: Edward died in Freeport at the age of twenty-six years; August is foreman of the Henny Buggy Company, of Freeport; Fred and Charles are engaged in the dry-goods business in Aurora, NE; Emmalina married August Wendt, and after her death Mr. Wendt married another sister, Matilda; they reside in Newton, where he is a prominent and successful merchant; the youngest, sister, Mary, is unmarried and makes her home in Newton.

The subject of this sketch was educated in Freeport, graduating from the high school of that place at the age of fifteen. Soon afterward he entered the store of his brother-in-law, August Wendt, where he occupied a position as salesman for seven years. In 1889 he formed the partnership in the firm of which he is the head. From the commencement of his career he has worked his way unaided, and is now a successful businessman, and one of the most prominent hardware merchants of the place. Possessing great force of character, shrewd business qualifications and indomitable will, he will undoubtedly win a foremost rank among the businessmen of central Iowa.

In 1889 Mr. Hanke was united in marriage with Miss Kate Scharf, the sister of his partner. They have one child, Leland R., who is now (1893) three years of age. Socially Mr. Hanke is a member of the Knights of Pythias and was formerly identified with the Woodmen of America, in which he was Banker for three terms. He is now a member of the Woodmen of the World. In his religious belief he is identified with the Lutheran Church in which faith he was reared. In politics, as were his father and all his brothers, he is an enthusiastic champion of the Republican party, and was a member of the Congressional Convention that nominated J. F. Lacy as Congressman from this district. He was honored at the last city election by being elected to the office of Alderman to represent the Third Ward. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 244.