Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed and donated by Vance Tigges & Kathy Weaver.

Among that worthy class of foreign-born residents of Iowa whose industry and sturdy qualities have added much to the financial worth and development of Carroll county is numbered Charles Oswald who, coming to the United States in early manhood, in the hope of finding better business advantages here than were offered in the old world, found the opportunities which he sought and in their wise utilization has attained gratifying success. He was born in Belgium, on the 3d of November, 1860, a son of Henry and Mary (Haas) Oswald. The parents were natives of the same country and there spent their entire lives. Charles Oswald was the second in order of birth in a family of five children, the others being as follows: Jacob, who yet resides in Belgium; John B., who came to the United States with his brother Charles and now makes his home in Jones county, Iowa; and Mary and John, also of Belgium.

Charles Oswald remained a resident of his native land until 1884, in which year he came to the United States, determining to seek the opportunities for advancement along business lines which this country offered to ambitious and enterprising young men. A poor man, he had little more than his strong physique and resolute will - characteristics of his race - but he was full of determination and at once set about earning his own living. He spent six years at Monticello, Jones county, Iowa, after which he removed to Benton county, Iowa, residing there for two years. In 1892 he arrived in Carroll county and here located upon the farm in Kniest township which still remains his home. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of rich, well cultivated land, and in the midst of his farm he has erected substantial and commodious buildings, while the general appearance of the place speaks in no uncertain terms of a life of industry, perseverance and thrift on the part of the owner. He has proved an alert, wide-awake and enterprising man, who keeps thoroughly in touch with modern methods of agriculture, and his well directed efforts have been well rewarded by a substantial degree of prosperity. He has also found time to cooperate in other interests and is now the vice president of the Mount Carmel Mutual Fire & Lightning Insurance Association.

Oswald was married, in 1890, to Miss Elizabeth May, who was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, and unto them have been born eight children, as follows: Mary, Henry G., Peter, Apolina, Wendling, Leo, Clara and Marcella, all yet at home. The parents hold membership in the Catholic church at Mount Carmel, and Mr. Oswald belongs to the Roman Catholic Protective Association of Iowa, of which he is president of the local branch of that order at Mount Carmel. In politics he has given his support to the democracy since becoming an American citizen, and for three terms he served as township trustee, while for six years he acted as school director. Although born across the water, he has ever been loyal and public-spirited in his support of American laws and institutions and has ever been found a stalwart advocate of progress and advancement along material, intellectual and moral lines. He is a self-made man who, depending upon his own resources entirely, has worked his way upward, proving the force of his character and the extent of his energy and business ability in the gratifying success which he has achieved.

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