Fred G. Hetzel (1846-1937)

HETZEL

Posted By: Debra Scott Hierlmeier (email)
Date: 11/9/2008 at 14:11:34

FRED G.HETZEL 1846-1937
PIONEER MERCHANT DIED MONDAY
PHOTO AVAILABLE

Fred G. Hetzel, died at his home in Avoca, Iowa, Monday afternoon, April 26, 1937, aged ninety years, ten months, and sixteen days.

The funeral services were held at this late home Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Interment was in the Avoca cemetery. Rev. Bast of the Atlantic Congregational church officiated.

Fred G. Hetzel, was born at Wheeling, West Virginia, June 10, 1846. When he was five years old his parents moved to Davenport, Iowa. They made the journey by boat, down the Ohio river to St. Louis and up the Mississippi river to Davenport, in 1851.
Here the family made their future home, and Fred Hetzel grew to boyhood on a farm and attended the public schools.

In 1874, Mr. Hetzel came to Avoca. Just five years after the town was laid out, which was in 1869, when the railroad reached this point. He engaged in the hardware business, which he followed for 52 years. During these years Mr. Hetzel served on the town council, on the school board and two terms as a member of the board of supervisors of the county. He served as president of the Pottawattamie County Fair Association and director for several years. He served as trustee in the church.

Mr. Hetzel was a member of the Avoca Odd Fellows lodge 220, for over 60 years..

During the sixty-three years Mr. Hetzel lived in Avoca, he saw this community grow from a vast prairie country to one of the finest farming countries in America. He saw farms sell for $8 per acre to $500 per acre. He saw farmers pay for their farm out of one crop of wheat. He saw farm wagons loaded with grain, line up for blocks waiting to unload at the Avoca elevators.

Fred Hetzel was one of the real pioneers of western Iowa, a fine citizen and community builder. He stood for what was right and his influence in the community had much to do in making Avoca a better place to live.

During all these years, Mr. Hetzel never refused to assist in any enterprise that was for the good of Avoca and community. He had that good old pioneer spirit, “If it is good for the other fellow, it will be good for me,” and he helped.

The night was never too dark or stormy, that he would not go to the assistance of those in want, during the horse and buggy days. He knew all the old settlers in this vicinity, from the first white man to all who traded in Avoca for over 40 years.

Since the death of Mrs. Hetzel a few years ago Mr. Hetzel has had for his housekeepers, his daughters, Miss Belle and Mrs. Olive Hetzel Howell. They have given him every care and attendance to his wants as only daughters could.

During the past few years he has not been able to get around as he would like. The past few months he was taken in a wheel chair. After he was 80 years old he took his first airplane ride. Since he retired from business he visited his son, Dr. Clarence Hetzel in Ogden, Utah, and a daughter, Mrs. Carl Battey at Boone, and relatives at Davenport.

In the death of Fred Hetzel another pioneer settler has gone to his reward, his good deeds, honest fatherly advice to many a young person, whose pathway looked dark, has made life worth living and this community is better that Fred G. Hetzel lived.

He leaves to mourn his loss two sons: Roy B Hetzel of Avoca; Dr. Clarence Hetzel of Ogden, Utah; three daughters: Mrs. Olive Hetzel Howell and Miss Belle Hetzel of Avoca and Mrs. Carl Battey of Boone, Iowa, six grandchildren and one brother, Henry Hetzel of Davenport, Iowa.

From the Scrapbooks of Bessie Gross Gustafsen
Source: Avoca Journal Herald