John F. Ueker

UEKER

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 10/10/2006 at 22:26:52

Among the active and enterprising business men of Grafton is John F. Ueker, the senior partner in the hardware firm of Ueker & Miller. He was born December 24, 1885, in the town where he still makes his home, his parents being August and Augusta (Schloesser) Ueker. Both were natives of Germany. The father left that country when fifteen years of age in company with his mother, his father having previously passed away. The family settled at Watertown, Wisconsin, and afterward removed to West Mitchell, Iowa, where August Ueker subsequently purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land west of the town of Mitchell. This he developed and improved for a short time and then removed to Grafton, where he conducted a saloon and billiard hall for a number of years. He afterward turned his attention to the implement business and coal trade, in which he engaged for some years and then established a furniture store, which he conducted successfully until his death at the age of seventy-two. He was one of the first merchants of the town and built up a good business. His widow is still living at the age of sixty-three years.

The boyhood days of John F. Ueker were passed in Grafton, where he pursued his education in the public schools. In early life he devoted two years to farm work and then took up carpentering at Mason City, Iowa, where he was employed for four years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Grafton, where he continued to work at the carpenter's trade for four years and in 1914 he entered the hardware business in connection with Herman C. Miller, forming the partnership that now exists. They purchased an established store, which they have since conducted. Their stock is very complete, including shelf hardware and tinware, and their reliable business methods and earnest desire to please their patrons constitute salient features in the growth of their trade.

In 1913 Mr. Ueker was married to Miss Alvina Braun, a daughter of William Braun and a native of Barton township, Worth county. Her father is now living retired and resides with the mother in Grafton. Mr. and Mrs. Ueker have two children, Gladys and Dorothy.

Mr. and Mrs. Ueker hold membership in the German Lutheran church and guide their lives according to its teachings. Mr. Ueker gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but has never been an office seeker and has ever preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business interests, which have constantly grown and developed and which now place him among the substantial merchants of his native town.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, Pages 508 & 509.