HERMAN B. OSTDIEK

OSTDIEK, SCHNITKER, SOPPE, HOLTFASTER, DERKS, KOSMAN, YAGER, STOY, THOMETZ, SHURTZ, HOLTKAMP

Posted By: Tim Dupy (email)
Date: 1/23/2002 at 08:34:26

Source of Info: History of Wapello County,Iowa, Volume Two, 1914 Pages 572-574

HERMAN B. OSTDIEK

HERMAN B. OSTDIEK, engaged in the manufacture of brick in Ottumwa,Iowa, has a well-equipped plant and the excellence of his product constitutes the salient feature in his growing success. Four forty years he has continued in this line of business, and his output during that period has average a million and a quarter bricks. He was born in Lee County,Iowa, March 15, 1855, and is a son of FERDINAND B. and CATHERINE(SCHNITKER) OSTDIEK, who were natives of Munster, Westphalia, Germany, both born in the year 1814. They were reared and married in their native land and with their two older children came to Iowa in 1846, settling in Lee County,Iowa, where their remaining days were passed. The father followed school teaching in Germany, but in the United States carried on general farming, owning a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of land. He also taught school for a few years in Lee County,Iowa and an excellent penman. He also engaged in the manufacture of lime and brick to some extent. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party, and his religious faith was that of the Catholic church. He died in 1873, while his wife passed away in 1885. They had ten children, of whom four died in early life, while six are yet living; GERALD and JOHN, residents of Neola, Iowa; MRS MINNIE SOPPE, also living in Neola, Iowa; MRS ELIZABETH HOLTFASTER of Council Bluffs, Iowa; HERMAN B.;and MRS MARY HOLTKAMP of Lee County, Iowa.

HERMAN B. OSTDIEK was a resident of Lee County Iowa until 1870, when he came to Ottumwa,Iowa and joined his brother GERHARD,who had established a brick yard at his place, making the first brick here. THE BROTHER EMPLOYED HERMAN until he reached the age of twent-one years and was then admitted to a partnership. In 1898 he purchased his brother's interst and has since conducted business alone. He has averaged about one million, two hundred and fifty thousand bricks for the last forty years, and his entire life has been devoted to brick manufacturing. He is familiar with ever phase of the business, utilizes modern processes and is very successfull
in the conduct of his business. In addition to his plant he owns eighty-eight acres of land where he resides, twenty-eight of it being within the city limits, his home being situated on No. 1003 East Pennsylvania Avenue. He also has fourteen acres of land where his brickyard is located at Riverview.

On the 1st of March 1881, MR OSTDIEK was married to MISS ELLEN M. DERKS, who was born in Center Township,Iowa, this county, July 15 1854, and has resided here all her life, being baptized in St. Mary's Church. She is a daughter of GERHARD and
PETRONELLA (KOSMAN) DERKS, both of whom were natives of Holland, in which country there were reared and married. The father was born January
15, 1825, and the mother on the 29th of September 1829. The crossed the Atlantic to New Orleans and thence made their way up the Mississippi River in 1850. MR DERKS engaged in general agriculture persuits and in the raising of bees and the production of honey. He died November 15,
1910, while his wife passed away June 04 1873.
They were the parents of six children; MRS JOHANNA YAGER living in Ottumwa,Iowa; MRS. OSTDIEK
MRS ROSE STOY, of Chicago Illinois; THEODORE, of Clyde Missouri; MRS ANNA THOMETZ of Chicago; and
JOHN W. of Gotebo, Oklahoma.

On coming to Iowa MR. DERKS walked with his wife from Eddyville,Iowa to Ottumwa,Iowa a distance of fifteen miles, as there was no railroad. He was a great skater, displaying marked skill on the ice and he would often skate up the river from
Eddyville,Iowa to Ottumwa,Iowa to attend mass, thus making the round trip of thirty-four miles.

To MR.andMRS OSTDIEK have been born six children;
MARY KATHERINE, at home; ROSE, the wife of C.Y.
SHURTZ of Oskaloosa,Iowa; GERHARD P., who is with his father in the brick business; FERDINAND T.,also with his father; LAURENCE J.,at home; and
JOSEPH H., who is attending Creighton University in Omaha.

In his political views MR. OSTDIEK is a democrat and was supported the men and measures of that party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He was reared in the Catholic faith and is now a member of S. Mary's Church, of which his family are also communicants. His long connection with the industrial interests of Ottumwa,Iowa has made him well known in its business circles, and the success, which he has won, is the merited reward of his earnest, presistent and honorable effort.