RADIG, WILLIAM C.

RADIG, GAUNKE, ROHRDANZ, DREYER

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 9/26/2003 at 17:00:01

Biography reproduced from page 685 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

America is a country of opportunity and half a century ago Kossuth county and the central west offered promising advantages to the many citizens of foreign birth who were endeavoring to make their fortunes in the newly opened farm lands of that section. William C. Radig is a man whose career is similar to that of many hundreds of his countrymen in the United States. He was the son of a German laborer and is now a large owner of farm lands in Lotts Creek township and is a prominent figure in the political and industrial life of that city. He was born in Germany, August 30, 1859, and is a son of Ferdinand and Charlotta (Gaunke) Radig, both natives of Germany. The father was a laborer in that country and died there in 1860. Eight years afterward his widow and her five children crossed the Atlantic to America. The journey was made in a sailing vessel and after eight weeks of travel they landed at Baltimore, whence they went to Watertown, Wisconsin. After one year’s residence in that city the mother was married again, her second union being to Fred Rohrdanz, who farmed in Wisconsin for fifteen years and at the expiration of that time came to Kossuth county with his wife. Here he died in 1900. William Radig’s mother then made her home with our subject until her death, which occurred in 1906.

William C. Radig received his early education in the public schools of Watertown, Wisconsin. He was twelve years of age when he removed to Kossuth county, Iowa, and in 1872 went to work for his brother-in-law, attending the district schools at the same time. When he was fifteen years of age he left home and journeyed to Michigan, where he worked in the timber lands for four years. At the end of that time he returned home and worked at farming in the employ of others until he was of age. When he had attained his majority he started farming for himself on a rented tract of land, which he operated for two years. During his occupancy of the rented farm he had saved his money and bought forty acres of rich land in Lotts Creek township, which he improved and operated for eight years. He finally sold out this farm and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in the same township and upon this he is now living. It has been his constant endeavor to carry on his agriculture along modern lines. He has equipped his farm with up-to-date implements and new labor-saving devices and is the owner of one of the model farm properties in Kossuth county.

In 1880 Mr. Radig was united in marriage to Miss Katie Dreyer, a daughter of German parents, born in the fatherland. Her father was a laborer in his native country and died there before the mother and family crossed the Atlantic. They located at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and later Mrs. Dreyer made her home with her brother in Fenton township, Kossuth county, where she remained until her death in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Radig are the parents of fourteen children, Emma, Mary, Fred, Hulda, Dora, Alexander, Anna, Herman, Lena, Matilda, Martha, Theresa, William and Irena.

Politically Mr. Radig is a consistent democrat and always votes for his party’s candidates. He takes an active interest in local political affairs and has served as township assessor. He is at the present time a justice of the peace, and secretary and one of the trustees of the school board. He is interested in the Whittemore Elevator Company and in the Lonerock Elevator Company and also holds stock in the Lotts Creek Horse Company and the Lotts Creek Creamery Company. He and his family give their allegiance to the German Lutheran church of Lonerock, Iowa, and are well known in religious circles of that community. Mr. Radig is a practical farmer and has given much of his time and attention to the development of his land along modern and progressive lines, and his success is indicated by constantly increasing harvests and a remarkable degree of prosperity.