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Do you have photos or information about an
early Clayton co. funeral home or undertaking establishment?
The dates given are approximate. More exact or additional
information is welcome!
Email the coordinator
Kappen Furniture
& Undertaking - Guttenberg Established in the late 1850's. Continuously operated into the 1950's. Clemens
Kappen, founder of Clayton county's oldest furniture
store, and one of the oldest businesses in Guttenberg to
be located continuously in one building, was born in
Zueschen, near Winderberg, Festfahlan, Germany, August
27, 1825. He came to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1851, taking 66
days to cross the Atlantic. Mr. Kappen worked as a
cabinet maker with a Cincinnati furniture company for
four years, when he became connected with a group being
sent to Guttenberg by the Cincinnati Settlement company,
and Maria Nutt who was born in Balzers, Liechtenstein,
Austria. She preceded Mr. Kappen to Guttenberg, coming
directly here from Austria in 1848. The sailing vessel on
which she crossed the ocean took 93 days to make the
trip. Many of her companions died from lack of drinking
water, as adverse winds belw the ship back out to sea
after they had nearly reached America. Albert J. Kappen, son of Clemens Kappen, has files
dating back to 1860's. They show that coffins sold for
$6.50 to $9.00. An extra charge of $1 was made for the
use of the hearse with one horse, and $1.50 for its use
with a team on longer trips. |
McTaggart Funeral
Service - Elkader Established in the early 1930's, operating into the 1970's Donald McTaggart, licensed embalmer Complete funerals as low as $75 and no extra charge for Funeral Home Complete funeral $100: Cloth-covered casket, white pine burial box, embalming, complete funeral service Complete funeral $189: Cypress casket covered with crushed plush, cypress burial box, embalming, use of chapel, use of hearse, cemetery equipment Complete funeral with metal casket $238: silver finish metal casket, concrete vault, embalming, use of funeral home, use of hearse, car for pallbearers, car for clergyman, cemetery equipment including tent, chairs, lowering device and green grass Complete funeral with metal casket & metal burial vault $369: includes all service and all arrangements Complete funeral with glass inner sealer & gronze vault $519: includes complete equipment, service and all arrangements ~Advertisement from the Clayton co. Centennial, July 1, 1936 |
Oelke funeral
home - Elkader Established in the early 1930's, operating into the 1950's Leslie Oelke, owner
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Pilkington
Funeral Parlor - McGregor Established in the late 1930's, operating into the 1950's George W. Pilkington, owner |
Schultz funeral
home - Monona Established 1909 - ? Carl G. Schultz came to Monona in
1909 and purchased the furniture and funeral service from
George Kaiser. He was active until 1975 when failing
health forced his retirement, having served the people of
Northeast Iowa for 65 years. In the early days all
deliveries were made by team. For the first 6 years
embalming was practiced only occasionally as many
families wouldn't permit it. Families came in and
selected a casket and shroud for about $50. They loaded
it on a wagon, took it home and conducted the services
themselves. In the late 1920's the horse drawn hearse was
replaced by a motor vehicle and the practice of embalming
more accepted.
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Thornburg Funeral
Home - McGregor Established in the early 1950's, operating into the 1990's |
Tuecke Funeral
Home - Garnavillo & Guttenberg Established in the 1940's, operating into the 1980's |
Walter Bros.
Undertaking Business - McGregor Established in 1856, operated into the early 1900's Peter and John Walter engaged in the manufacture of furniture and coffins. In 1856 they established a wholesale and retail furniture and undertaking business which transacted business for nearly fifty years. Their building was on Main Street, McGregor. |
Zearley
Undertaking Business - Garber Established in 1895, operated until 1948 Lewis A. Zearley operated his undertaking business in the Garber vicinity from 1895 until he sold it to Leslie Oelke, owner of the Oelke Funeral home in Elkader. Zearley received his first license in 1902. He was the Clayton county coroner from 1920-1924. After suffering a heart attack in the spring of 1948 he made his home with his son, James, near Colesburg, until his death March 23, 1949. ~Oelwein Daily Register, August 1948 |
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