IAGenWeb Project - Clayton co.

Anderegg


John Anderegg, a retired farmer who now makes his home in Guttenberg, has been for over forty years identified with the development and progress of Clayton County; when he first set eyes upon it, it was a wild uncultivated piece of prairie, sparsely settled and having but little promise of the great future before it. By his assistance and that of the many worthy pioneers who located here in the early '50s, thereafter devoting their energies to its improvement and cultivation, it has come to be known as one of the best and most fertile counties in the sisterhood of the State.

Samuel Anderegg, father of our subject, was born in Switzerland, where he lived until after his marriage, and then started for America, becoming a resident of Indiana, in which state his death occurred in 1873. His wife, who before her marriage was Barbara Hoobler, was also a native of Switzerland and departed this life in Ohio. Their son, John, was born June 12, 1824, in the land of the Alps, and until reaching his majority, resided in that picturesque and far-famed country. It was his privilege to receive a good general school education, and by his studies as well as from friends he learned of the advantages afforded to the native and adopted sons of America, and early made up his mind he would journey to the western part of the United States. On may 16, 1845, after a tedious journey on the ocean he landed in New York City, and from there went to Ohio, where he continued to reside for eight years. In 1853, as we have previously related, he became one of the pioneers of Clayton County, settling on a farm in Jefferson Township, near where the village of Guttenberg now stands.

August 3, 1862, Mr. Anderegg volunteered his services in the defense of his adopted country, donning the blue and enlisting as a member of Company D, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry. For meritorious and valiant service he was promoted from the ranks to be Second, and subsequently first Lieutenant. With his regiment he participated in many important engagements and battles, among them, Little Rock and Memphis, afterward being sent on the Red River Expedition. In 1864 he was mustered out at Memphis, Tenn., receiving an honorable discharge. Returning to Clayton County he continued for some twenty years longer to operate his valuable farm, which he carried on until 1884, when he retired from its arduous duties. He has just sold his farm of two hundred and ten acres of good farm land, all of which is under fine cultivation, and well improved with substantial farm buildings, fences, etc. to his son, Charles G.

In 1846, the year after his arrival in America, Mr. Anderegg married Miss Magdalena Menger, who was a native of Germany. To them were born five sons and three daughters, John, Lizzie, William, Charles G., Julius, Lydia, Emma and Herman F. The devoted wife and mother, who for nearly forty years had been the trusted and faithful companion and helpmate of Mr. Anderegg, was called from this life in 1884, leaving many friends to mourn her loss. The present wife of our subject was formerly Louise Frieze, and their marriage was celebrated in 1884. Of this union has been born one child, Mattie by name.

In public and local affairs, Mr. Anderegg has always been interested, taking his share, and doing all in his power to advance the best interests of the community. The boys in blue have ever occupied a warm place in his heart, and he is a charter member and one of the founders of Hasen Deufel Post No. 146, G.A.R. Politically, he votes with the Republican party.


source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg. 435-436
~transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall

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