RUDOLPH SROPPEL

During early life Rudolph Stroppel followed blacksmithing but for the past ten years has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of a fine farm on section 25, Gower township. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Baden, Germany, March 23, 1859, his parents being Thomas and Katherine Stroppel. The father was a lifelong resident of Baden and was a blacksmith by trade. He died in his native country, but the mother came to the new world in 1885 and passed away here in 1902. There were only two children in the family, the younger being Olive, now the wife of Richard Wagner, of Jersey City, New Jersey.

In the land of his nativity Rudolph Stroppel grew to manhood and under the direction of his father learned the blacksmith’s trade. Prior to coming to the United States he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rist, who was also born in Baden, March 25, 1859, a daughter of John Rist. This union has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Thomas, now a resident of South Dakota; Anna, the wife of Willis Diehl, of the same state; John, also of South Dakota; Katherine, who is engaged in teaching school in Cedar county; George, Clara and Charles, all at home; and Mary, who died in infancy.

In 1883 Mr. Stroppel, in company with his wife and only son, crossed the ocean and took up his residence in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he obtained work as a mechanic in the railroad shops, remaining there from March until November of that year. In the latter month, however, he proceeded westward and settled in Cedar county, Iowa, where he was engaged in blacksmithing until about ten years ago, when on account of ill health he retired from that occupation and has since engaged in farming. He had charge of the construction work of all the machinery at the Cedar Valley quarries and continued to carry on a blacksmith and machine shop for several years. He then purchased his present farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres on section 25, and eighty acres on section 4, Gower township, and to its improvement and cultivation he has since devoted his energies. When he located thereon there was not a fence upon the place, but he has erected good substantial buildings, has divided the farm into fields by good fences and has placed the land under a high state of cultivation. In connection with general farming he has also engaged in the raising of high grade stock of all kinds and has met with success in this occupation. The democratic party finds in him a stanch supporter of its principles and he is now serving as township trustee in a most creditable and acceptable manner. Religiously he holds membership in St. Joseph Catholic church at Cedar Valley.