Andrew C. Reuschel left his
German Fatherland when he was a lad of thirteen years
and came alone to the United States, where as a
youthful stranger in a strange land he forthwith
encountered distracting and none too pleasant
experiences, but he had sturdy courage and
self-reliance and it has been entirely through his
own ability and efforts that he has achieved
independence and definite prosperity. He is a skilled
workman at the trade of harnessmaker and is now the
proprietor of a well-equipped harness and saddlery
establishment at Elkport, Clayton county, where he is
known and valued as a progressive business man and
loyal and upright citizen.
Andrew Charles Reuschel was born in Bavaria, Germany,
on the 13th of December, 1868, and his venerable
parents, Arnold and Amelia (Bals) Reuschel, still
reside in their native land, strong in both mental
and physical powers. This sterling couple became the
parents of thirteen children, concerning whom brief
record may here be consistently entered: Christian
and George are serving in the German army and taking
part in the greatest war known in the history of the
world; Hans is in the Germany navy; Schorg, Max and
Otto are gallant soldiers in the army of the harassed
Fatherland; Herman remains at the parental home; Ida
remains in Germany, and is the wife of George
Gewinner; Mary is a widow and resides at Wurtzburg,
Germany; Gretchen and husband are residents of
Lindau, Germany; Amelia remains with her venerable
parents; and the youngest child, a daughter, died in
infancy.
Arnold Reuschel, father of the subject of this
sketch, became a skilled watchmaker and continued for
many years in the active work of his trade, besides
which he has been an honored and influential citizen
of his community and served for some time as a member
of the municipal council of the town in which he
still maintains his home.
Andrew C. Reuschel gained his early education in the
excellent schools of his native place and at the age
of thirten years he severed the home ties and set
forth for the United States, no other member of the
family and no companion having accompanied him on the
voyage. Upon landing in the port of New York City the
lad failed to find the woman friend who was to have
met him, and a business man noted his predicament and
took him to a hotel. The weary boy went to bed, but
about an hour later he arose and set forth to search
for the missing friend. After riding on street cars
in the metropolis from nine until half-past eleven
o'clock in the morning he at last arrived at the home
of the friend who had kindly agreed to help him in
placing himself in his adopted land.
For two and one-half years he was employed in a trunk
factory in Philadelphia and he then started for
Clayton county, Iowa, where kinfolk of his mother
resided. On arriving in the city of Chicago
misadventure again became his portion, for he was put
on the wrong train and landed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
instead of the desired destination in Clayton county.
From the Wisconsin metropolis he came by freight
train to McGregor, Clayton county, where he was
refused further transportation, though his ticket
designated Elkport as his destination. His worldly
possession by this time had been reduced to his
apparel, thirty-five cents in cash, a silver watch
and a gold ring. Without providing himself with
breakfast Mr. Reuschel, who was then 15 years of age,
set forth on foot for the village of Guttenberg,
where he arrived footsore and weary, but with
undaunted courage. It is pleasing to record in this
connection that he still retains in his possession
the little gold ring which he wore on this journey.
On arriving at Guttenberg a kindly old hotel man,
Henry Eppenes, provided him with a bountiful supply
of food and sent him on to his destination at
Elkport. At this latter place, which is now his home,
he found employment in the harness shop of John Bals,
a relative of his mother, and entered upon a
practical apprenticeship to the harnessmaker's trade.
After remaining with Mr. Bals for a period of seven
and one-half years Mr Reuschel went to the city of
Dubuque, where he remained twelve years in the employ
of a large harness and saddlery concern. After three
years of service he was made foreman of the shop and
during the last three years he held the position of
superintendent of the entire manufacturing department
of the business.
In 1904 Mr. Reuschel returned to Elkport and
purchased the shop and business of his former
employer, Mr. Bals, and he has since conducted the
enterprise most successfully, the shop building which
he owns having been devoted to its present use for
the long period of forty-five consecutive years and
being one of the pioneer business establishments of
Elkport. Mr Reuschel has expanded the scope of his
business by acting as local agent for the Demo Cream
Separator Company and also as agent for the Hartford
Fire Insurance Company.
He became a naturalized citizen of the United States
in 1890 and has since given a staunch support to the
cause of the Republican party. That he has secure
place in popular confidence and esteem is shown by
the fact that he served two terms as mayor of
Elkport, besides having given efficient
administration also in the offices of the township
clerk, township assessor and member of the school
board, of which last mentioned body he is president
at the time of this writing, in 1916. He was mayor of
Elkport 1911-13. He is a zealous communicant of the
German Lutheran church at Elkport and is serving as a
member of its board of trustees. He is affiliated
with the local organizations of Modern Woodmen of
America and the Modern Brotherhood of America, in
each of which he holds the office of clerk.
Mr. Reuschel on October 5, 1893, married Amelia
Mueller, of Elkport and they have four children as
follows: Myrtle, Herman, Amelia and Andrew Jr.
source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical
Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price,
Vol. II; pg. 348-350
-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall
