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 June 26, 2020

B. Greteman, who has been identified with mercantile interests at Willey for the past twenty-four years, is one of the most prosperous and enterprising residents of the town and is now at the head of one of the largest general stores in Carroll county. His birth occurred at St. Lucas, Iowa, on the 4th of April, 1866, his parents being Otto and Elizabeth (Kemen) Greteman, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1850, landing at New Orleans and making his way up the Mississippi river to Chicago. After residing in that city for a number of years he was married and removed to Minnesota, where he remained for one year. On the expiration of that period he came to Iowa, locating on a farm in Fayette county, where he continued to reside until called to his final rest in 1867. His wife passed away in 1885.

B. Greteman, who was the sixth in order of birth in a family of nine children, attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education. He then went to work in order to earn money sufficient to buy books that he might continue his studies. In 1887 he began teaching school and followed that profession for four or five years, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. In 1887 he also embarked in the general mercantile business at Willey in association with his brother Frank, who now resides at Templeton. During the period that our subject taught school, the store was conducted by Frank Greteman. In 1891, however, B. Greteman became an active factor in the management of the establishment and now conducts the same independently. He carries a large and well selected stock of all goods handled in the modern department store, including machinery, hardware, etc. Having at all times manifested an earnest desire to please and satisfy his patrons, his trade has steadily grown until it has assumed large and profitable proportions.

Mr. Greteman has been married twice. On the 10th of November, 1891, he wedded Miss Anna Smith, a daughter of Jacob Smith, who was a farmer by occupation. By that union there were six children, namely: Jacob, who is a student in St. Benedict’s College at Atchison, Kansas; John and Clem, who are employed in their father’s store; Victor and Joseph, both of whom are attending school at Willey; and Rosie, who lives with her aunt, Mrs. Victor Croatt, at Waucoma, Iowa. The wife and mother passed away in 1903 and in January, 1907, Mr. Greteman was again married, his second union being with Mary Meisner, a daughter of Leonard Meisner. Unto them have been born three children: Frank, Bernhard and Lawrence.

Mr. Greteman is a democrat in his political views but not bitterly partisan and supports the men and measures that he deems will best conserve the general welfare. He has held the positions of town clerk, school treasurer and postmaster of Willey, ever discharging his official duties in a most prompt and capable manner. An enterprising and progressive citizen, he assisted in the installation of the first telephone system in Willey. In addition to his mercantile interests he likewise owns a creamery. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Columbus at Carroll, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Catholic church at Willey. His success has been won entirely along lines of old and time-tried maxims. He has carefully planned his business, has the ability and executive force to carry it forward and has gained thereby a gratifying prosperity.

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