Louis F. Zahrndt is a native
son of Germany; coming to America when but a child,
undergoing with his parents and their family all the
hardships of pioneering, benefiting by every
opportunity offered by the new land, working
indefatigably, exercising thrift and good business
judgment, building for himself a reputation for
thoroughgoing integrity and obtaining for himself a
competency and high standing in the business life of
his community; this is in brief the life story of
Louis F. Zahrndt.
He was born in Germany,
April 18, 1847, the son of John D. and Wilhelmina
(Clapman) Zahrndt. In 1853, when Louis was but six
years of age, the parents decided to leave the land
of their birth and with their little family made
their way across the vast spaces of the Atlantic to
build a home for themselves in free America. The
journey to Iowa which state they had decided to make
their home, was saddened by the death of Ida, their
youngest child. They immediately settled upon a farm
and it may well be believed that there were no idle
hands in the little household, and that all then
learned the lessons of frugality and industry which
served them so well in later life. The father not
only pursued the clearing and cultivation of his
farm, but during the winter months followed his trade
as a cooper. It is well to know that these German
pioneers lived to see their family grown to respected
and self-supporting maturity, and to enjoy,
themselves, the fruits of their early labors. Both
died in this their adopted country in the enjoyment
of the esteem and affection of all who knew them. The
children of John D., and Wilhelmina Zahrndt were
five, Herman and Lena who died in infancy; Louisa,
now the widow of Henry Lange and living in Cox Creek
township; Louis, the subject of this sketch and Ida,
who died during the journey to America.
Louis as a lad and youth
enjoyed the privileges of the public school system
and with willing hands assisted his father in the
work on the farm. It was while he was with his father
on the old homestead farm that he was married,
December 5, 1869, to Miss Augusta Meyer also a native
of Germany. By hard work and careful economy the
young man accumulated sufficient capital to purchase
property in the village of Mederville and there for
eight years he engaged in the hotel business. He then
sold his Mederville property and returned to
agricultural pursuits. By this time his reputation
for business ability and strict integrity had become
recognized by all and he was appointed to the
important position of superintendent of the County
Asylum for the Insane, located at Elkader. This
position which requires the qualifications of good
management, kindliness, great patience and force of
character was filled by Mr. Zahrndt most acceptably
for a period of five years. Following this he was for
four years a successful salesman and representative
of the well known McCormick line of agricultural
implements. Resigning this position he next engaged
in the hotel business at Elkader and for eight years
conducted a popular hostelry in the county seat town.
Later he disposed of this business and purchased the
Elkader Laundry which he is now conducting, having
installed modern machinery and appliances and giving
his patrons excellent satisfaction.
Mr. Zahrndt has been honored
by his fellow citizens with election to a number of
township offices, he is an esteemed member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his church
relations are with the Lutheran church. To Mr. and
Mrs. Zahrndt five children were born all of whom are
living and in the enjoyment of prosperity and the
esteem of their community. The children of this
worthy couple are Louis D., a prosperous farmer
living in the vicinity of Edgewood; Ida, who resides
with her parents at Elkader; Fred, who is engaged in
farming the old family homestead and Martha, living
in Elkader.
source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical
Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price,
Vol. II; pg. 454-455
-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall
