ANDREGG, HERMAN F.

ANDREGG, MINGER, HECKEL, BOTTSFORD

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/27/2004 at 15:39:19

Biography reproduced from page 252 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Herman F. Andregg is a well known and successful auctioneer and farmer living in Garfield township on a highly improved farm of two hundred and forty acres. He is prominent in the county, being acquainted in practically every township, and is a well known and highly respected man of the community. He was born in Clayton county, Iowa, August 19, 1868, a son of John and Magdalena (Minger) Andregg, both natives of Switzerland . The father, who was born in 1823, emigrated to the new world in 1843 and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio . He was by vocation a carpenter and builder and remained engaged in that business until 1856, when he removed to Gutenberg, Clayton county, Iowa , where for a few years he conducted a building and contracting business. He then purchased a two-hundred acre farm near Gutenberg and made his home on that place until 1884, when his wife passed away and he retired from farm work, removing to Gutenberg, where he engaged in the insurance business and became an auctioneer. In his early manhood he supported the Union cause at the time of the Civil war, enlisting in Company D, Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served for two years under the stars and stripes. He was a good and loyal soldier and attained the rank of first lieutenant, but on account of disability he was honorably discharged after two years of service. He then returned to his home in Iowa and continued to make that his home until the time of his death, which occurred May 21, 1910 . The mother preceded him to her long rest, passing away in May, 1884.

Herman F. Andregg was reared in Clayton county, Iowa, being educated in its common schools. After the death of his mother, which occurred when he was quite young, he started out for himself, going to Dolton, a suburb of Chicago, where for two years he worked in a brickyard. He then returned to Clayton county and for three years was employed in flourmill, after which he came to Kossuth county and bought eighty acres of land in Garfield township which he set about improving and cultivating. He later purchased one hundred and sixty acres more and now owns two hundred and forty acres, all of which he has operated since it came into his possession. Aside from his farm work he does a large business as auctioneer, being very successful in that capacity. He was the organizer and is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Live Stock Shipping Association with headquarters at West Bend.

Mr. Andregg was married April 25, 1892, to Miss Theressa M. Heckel, a daughter of Fred E. and Charlotte (Bottsford) Heckel, natives of Saxony, Germany, and Connecticut respectively. The father emigrated to the new world in 1866, settling first in Englewood , Illinois, where he remained for six months. He then removed to Dyersville, Dubuque county, Iowa, where he secured employed at milling, having learned that trade in the old country. He remained thus employed for about five years and then removed to Peosta, Iowa , where he engaged in the mercantile business. He remained in the mercantile trade until 1876, when he sold out and removed to Millville, Clayton county, where he purchased a flourmill, which he operated until 1905, when he retired and is now living in that town at the age of sixty-seven years, while his wife is sixty-one years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Andregg have been born five children, namely: Charlotte, who at the age of nineteen years is teaching school in Garfield township; Edmund J., aged seventeen years, who is attending the West Bend high school; Harold F., who is fourteen years of age and is attending high school; Evelyn P., age nine years; and Mildred M., a maiden of two years.

Mr. Andregg is a democrat in his political faith and is the present clerk of his township. He is also secretary of the local school board and has served as justice of the peace. The family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church, being regular attendants at the service of that organization. Mr. Andregg is one of the highly respected and valued citizens of his township. He enjoys a very extensive acquaintance throughout Kossuth county and by all who know him is regarded as a business man of the highest order. He has large numbers of close personal friends.