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

The attractiveness of Iowa as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders, believing that her advantages and opportunities are equal if not superior to those to be secured in other parts of the country. Herman F. Bruggeman was born in this state, the place of his nativity being Arcadia township, Carroll county, and the date of his birth March 23, 1874. His father, Adolphus Bruggeman, was born in Westphalia, Germany, and came to the United States when about twenty-four years of age. He landed at New Orleans, Louisiana, and remained in that city for a few months, after which he made his way up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where he resided seven years, being there engaged in the bakery and confectionary business. He next went to Cumberland county, Illinois, where he took up the occupation of farming, and at the end of eight years there spent came to Carroll county, Iowa, two years before the subject of this sketch was born. Continuing in agricultural pursuits, he located on section 11, Arcadia township, on a tract of raw land, every acre of which he broke himself. He concentrated his efforts on its further development and cultivation, and, erecting good buildings upon the place, it was not long before he had a highly improved property. He became very successful in his agricultural enterprise, and at the time of his death was the owner of more than four hundred acres of valuable land. His death occurred in 1909. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Charlotte Stahlhut, passed away when her youngest son was but eighteen months old. 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., who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Louisa, whose death occurred at the age of three years; and Herman F., of this review.

At the usual age the last named entered the public school at Arcadia, and after mastering the branches of learning therein taught became a pupil in the high school, from which he graduated in due season. He began agricultural pursuits on his own account when nineteen years of age, taking up his abode on his present farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Arcadia township. He at once began its improvement and has since made substantial progress, greatly advancing his individual interests through his well directed efforts and his close application to business affairs. He has brought his farm under a high state of cultivation and in addition to its operation also engages in raising stock, both branches of his business proving sources of substantial annual revenue.

Mr. Bruggeman was united in marriage when only twenty-one years of age, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Kaspersen. Unto them have been born six children, as follows: Clara and Arthur, yet at home; Anna, deceased; and Elsie, Esther and Elmer, also still under the parental roof. In politics Mr. Bruggeman has been a life-long republican, giving stalwart support to that party although the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He and his wife both hold membership in the Germany Presbyterian church, in the work of which they are helpfully interested, and they are both well known throughout this community, being held in the highest esteem by everyone. As the result entirely of his own efforts Mr. Bruggeman has attained a high degree of prosperity and his success is all the more honorable because of the high principles which have ever governed his life.

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