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 by Sharon Elijah July 15, 2020

When diligence, industry and perseverance are brought to bear upon the conduct of any enterprise, the results are almost certain to be favorable, especially when supplemented by a spirit of progress and a sense of honesty. Such elements have formed the salient characteristics in the career of Frank A. Bruggeman. A native of Illinois, his birth occurred in Cumberland county on the 1st of October, 1869, a son of Adolph and Charlotte (Stahlhut) Bruggeman. The parents were both natives of Germany, the father coming to this country when twenty-four years of age. He was located for a few months at New Orleans, Louisiana, later spent several years in St. Louis, Missouri, then made his way to Cumberland county, Illinois, whence he came to Carroll county, Iowa. Here he engaged in farming pursuits for many years and became one of the large landowners and successful agriculturists in his locality. He passed away in 1909, surviving his wife for many years, her death occurring about eighteen months after the birth of her youngest child. In their family were six children, as follows: Augusta, who passed away in infancy; Emma J., the wife of John Hofeldt, of South Dakota; Pauline, residing in Arcadia; Frank A., of this review; Louisa, whose death occurred at the age of three years; and Herman F., who is mentioned on another page of this volume.

No event of especial importance came to vary the routine of life for Frank A. Bruggeman during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was quietly passed in his parents’ home, his education being acquired in the public and high schools of Arcadia. The summer seasons were devoted to assisting his father in the work of the farm, in which his training was practical and thorough, so that when twenty –three years of age he felt justified in starting in business on his own account. At that time he undertook the supervision of the home farm, since which he has continuously made his home thereon, giving his attention to its further development and cultivation. Although he gives much thought to the care of his fields, most of his attention is devoted to his live stock interests, making a specialty of raising hogs. To this branch of his business is due in large degree the success which he today enjoys, for he has given much study to the raising of his specialty and is recognized throughout the community as a good judge of hogs. He is one of the prosperous and progressive farmers and stockmen in Arcadia township, and is now the owner of a valuable farm of four hundred and eighty acres.

Mr. Bruggeman was united in marriage, in 1893, to Miss Anna Behneman, and unto them have been born seven children, of whom the eldest, Alonzo, has passed away. The others, all yet at home, are as follows: Harold, Edwin, Laura, Edna, Otto and Walter. The parents are both interested and active members of the Lutheran church, in the work of which they take a helpful part, and in politics Mr. Bruggeman gives stalwart support to the republican party. He is now serving as secretary of the township school board, and all measurers which have to do with the material, intellectual or moral life of the community are matters of interest to him. His life has ever been actuated by high principles which have commended him to the esteem, confidence and good will of his fellowmen, and today he ranks prominent among the valued and representative citizens of Carroll county.

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