Siedentopf, William

SIEDENTOPF

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 21:21:31

William Siedentopf

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.567)
WILLIAM SIEDENTOPF, a prominent real-estate dealer of Council Bluffs, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1846, and came direct to this city in 1865, where he has since resided. He came by stage-coach, prior to the advent of the railroad. He has witnessed the "ups and downs" of the city of his adoption during the last quarter of a century, and has been closely identified with every move for its prosperity. His unlimited faith in the future of Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County, is best evinced by his large holdings of real estate, and he is also one of the largest tax-payers in the county. Up to 1879 he was actively identified with the banking business of this city, and is now a director of the First National Bank. A term of three years as School Director and four years as Alderman, comprise his service in official life. While a member of the School Board, Mr. SIEDENTOPF was a firm advocate of the introduction of phonetic spelling and the re-organization of the high school, and strongly supported Professors Alexander GOW and W. H. HATCH, overcoming vigorous opposition in and out of the board. As a member of the City Council, the city finances received his careful study and attention, and to this day his counsel is frequently sought on that question. During his term of office (1882-'86), commencing with the operation of the present charter, the various improvements of paving, grading and sewering were inaugurated, and a new era in the prosperity of Council Bluffs may well be dated from that period.

In 1870 Mr. SIEDENTOPF and Miss Mary BURHOP, also of this city, were united in marriage, and of their three children, two survive: William F., aged nineteen, and Ella, fourteen. For several years past Mr. SIEDENTOPF has devoted almost his whole time to his large real estate interests.