Charles Henry DUER

DUER, FOLL, NELSON, WEIMER, PIPER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/24/2016 at 22:57:40

November 28, 1868 ---- September 29, 1956

Charles H. Duer, 87, a pioneer Eagle Grove business man, died at his home Saturday evening, September 29 about 10 o'clock. He had been ill for several months and in failing health for the past several years.

He and the town's famous Dr. C. H. Morse, 100 years old, are the last two men who were in business in Eagle Grove before the turn of the century. Mr. Duer began his business career here in 1890. Dr. Morse started practice in 1883. Now only Dr. Morse remains.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon in the Congregational church with the Rev. Dale Brown officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill cemetery.

Active Church Worker

Although Mr. Duer was active in the early Commercial club, the Masonic lodge and the city band, his church was his most loved activity. He was a deacon, a member of the Board of Trustees and very active in the church choir in an earlier day. He was instrumental in organizing a church quartette which was popular for a number of years. He also worked every year on the church canvass and on other money raising committees.

In 1896 he was married to Adelaide Foll. To their marriage two sons were born, Harold of Eagle Grove and Willard of Kanawha. He is also survived by four sisters, Mae Duer and Susan C. Nelson of Nashville, Tennessee; Flora Piper of Minneapolis, Minn.; Pearl Weimer of Hartley, Iowa. Eight grandchildren also survive: Richard in the U.S. Air Force serving in Fountainbleu, France; Thomas Charles and Mary Virginia attending Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., Stephen Harold of Eagle Grove; Carolee, Jon-Roger, Janet, and Nancy of Kanawha. Three sisters and two brothers and his wife preceded him in death.

First Business

Mr. Duer's first business was a combination shoe and grocery store located where the present Paul's Pay-N-Takit store is now. His was one of the first businesses on the west side of town. In that day the north side of the street was about the only side on which a building could be located as the south side was lower and often under water. Sidewalks along Broadway were all on stilts to stay out of mud and water.

Soon after locating here Mr. Duer purchased his brother's share of the business and moved to a new location further west where the present Ahrens Paint store is located and the former Erickson grocery. It was a double front store.

Soon after his marriage he became associated with his brother-in-law Fred Foll and Mr. Duer moved to Freeport, Ill., to operate a store there that he and Mr. Foil owned. Mr. Foll stayed in Eagle Grove and operated the store here. A disastrous fire burned the Freeport store out completely and Mr. Duer returned to Eagle Grove where he has been in business without interruption until his retirement in 1952.

Starts Hatchery

During the bust period following world war one the firm had financial reverses which forced them to close out the business. Mr. Duer reentered business in the poultry and hatchery business and Mr. Foil entered the furniture and undertaking business with L. E. Wilson. Mr. Duer continued to operate the hatchery business until August 1952 when he sold to Dwight Jones. Mr. Duer was continuously in business in Eagle Grove for 62 years.

It is believed that Mr. Duer was a charter subscriber to the Eagle Grove Eagle which was started in 1896 to replace the Boone Valley Gazette. He continued to take the Eagle throughout his life and was getting a subscription for himself in addition to the one that went to his son and family at the time of his death.

EAGLE GROVE EAGLE --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
October 4, 1956

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Source --- Paul Wilde