Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 842
ALBERT L. RADTKE

The RADTKE family have been residents of Harrison county, Iowa, since 1873, when the parents of Albert L. RADTKE located in this county. The family is of German ancestry and for more than forty years have taken a prominent part in the agricultural life of the county. Albert L. RADTKE has been unusually successful as a farmer and stock raiser and for many years has ranked among the most enterprising farmers of Magnolia township.

Albert L. RADTKE, the son of William and Matilda (SMITH) RADTKE, was born September 30, 1867, in Sibley county, Minnesota. His father was born in Germany in 1846, and came to America with his parents when he was fourteen years of age, and located in Wisconsin. The family shortly afterwards moved to Minnesota, where William grew to manhood and enlisted for service in the Civil War. He was a member of Company A, Fourth Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and while in the hospital during the Civil Was as a result of an injury, he became acquainted with his future wife. After his marriage, William RADTKE located in Sibley county, Minnesota, but in 1873 removed to Harrison county, Iowa, where he lived until his death in 1903. His wife was born in Germany December 5, 1848, and came with her parents to America when she was a year old. She died November 15, 1907. Eighteen children were born to William RADTKE and wife. The reader is referred to the history of George G. RADTKE for further information concerning the RADTKE family.

Albert L. RADTKE was six years of age when his parents located in Harrison county, Iowa, and consequently he received all of his education in this county. At the age of eighteen he began working for himself. Four years later he bought a team of horses and farming implements, and, with his brother Henry, rented one hundred and twenty acres of land in Lincoln township. Three years later Albert RADTKE rented his father's farm for a couple of years and then bought a farm in Allen township. Soon after this he sold his farm in the latter township and bought the old home place of one hundred and fifty-nine acres, on which he has since resided. He is a breeder of thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs and Durham cattle. He has been very successful in his live stock business.

Mr. RADTKE was first married in 1894 to Mary E. ALTER, who was born in 1876, in Harrison county, and was a daughter of Adam and Mary (GRIFFITH) ALTER. Her father was born in Germany and her mother in Scotland. They became early settlers of Harrison county, where they lived the remainder of their lives. The first wife of Mr. RADTKE died December 8, 1900, leaving one son, Edward R. In 1904 Mr. RADTKE was married to Laura HAUFF, who was born in Harrison county, in 1874, and is a daughter of Frederick and Barbara (LESLEIN) Hauff, natives of Germany. Her father was born in 1817 and died in Harrison county in 1894. Her mother was born in 1839 and died in 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Hauff were pioneer settlers in Harrison county, where they reared a family of eight children. Mr. RADTKE has no children by his second marriage.

Mr. RADTKE has always given his loyal support to the Republican party and is now serving as trustee of Magnolia township in an acceptable manner. He and his wife are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Mr. RADTKE is one of the excellent German-American farmers of the county and the success which has followed his efforts has been richly deserved. He is a man of genial manner and kindly disposition and is recognized by all who know him as a man of honor and integrity.

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