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 September 20, 2020

A resident of Carroll county for nearly forty-five years, Charles H. Ludwig is thoroughly familiar with the resources of this section, and as a business man has had large experience, meeting with a goodly measure of success. He was born in Millhaus, Germany, November 28, 1853, son of Martin and Anna Mary Ludwig. The father learned the harnessmaker’s trade in his native county, and believing that more favorable conditions prevailed in America than he saw about him in Germany, he crossed the ocean to the new world during the Civil war and lived for several years at Dubuque, Iowa, engaging in farming. In 1867 he settled in Carroll county, where he passed away at the age of seventy-six years. His wife is still living and has reached the advanced age of eighty-five. She is a sincere member of the Catholic church as was also her husband. He served as a soldier in the war of 1848 in Germany and was an industrious man of excellent character. There were eleven children in the family, seven of whom are now living, namely: James J., of Buda, Iowa; Frank, whose home is near Auburn, Iowa; Charles H., of this review; Joseph, of Carroll; Josephine and Anna, both of Carroll; and Victoria, now the wife of Joseph Shalle, of Buda.

Charles H. Ludwig came to America with his parents when he was about eleven years of age. He grew to manhood on his father’s farm and attended the district schools, assisting as he grew up in work about the house and in the fields. His first employment was as clerk in the general store of De Wayne & Arts at Carroll, with which firm he continued for seven years, and thus gained a good general knowledge of mercantile business. He next formed a partnership with H. E. Stevens and they conducted a general store next to the postoffice in Carroll. Finally Mr. Ludwig bought his partner’s interest and associated with his brothers, Christ and Charles H., carried on the store. This business was closed out in 1909 and in 1910 Mr. Ludwig and his son William started the Racket Store, also carrying groceries. The enterprise has proved successful being under experienced management, and the patronage has shown a steady increase.

Mr. Ludwig was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Knewth, and five children have been bon to them, namely: William, Frank, Charles, Edward and Louise. Mr. Ludwig and his wife are both consistent members of the Catholic church. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, and ever since casting his first ballot he has been in sympathy with the democratic party and has been an active worker in its behalf. The confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens was shown at the city election of 1910, when he was chosen as assessor. He is highly popular and is regarded as one of the capable and progressive men of Carroll.

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