For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 763
J. A. BARTEMEIER....Among the business men of Muscatine J. A. Bartemeier occupies an honored place not only on account of his buxiness in mercantile affairs but because of personal qualities that inspire the respect of associates and acquaintances. He was born in Davenport, Iowa, February 6, 1865, and is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Reers ) Bartemeier, both of whom were natives of Baden, Germany. The father learned the tailor's trade and, believing that more favorable conditions existed in the American republic than prevailed in the older Eurpoean countries, he came to the United States and located in St. Louis in 1848. In 1853 he removed to Davenport, Iowa, and was at the head of a merchant tailoring establishment until his death, which occurred in 1901 when he was seventy-one years old. His wife passed away in 1884 at the age of sixty-four years. Both were devout Roman Catholics. John Bartemeier, the paternal grandfather, was a farmer in Germany and died at sea while coming to America. There were two sons in the family, John and Fred. The maternal grandfather was Bernard Reers, a carpenter.Unto John and Elizabeth ( Reers ) Bartemeier seven children were born, six of whom grew to maturity : Mary, the wife of Valentine Dauber, of Rock Island, Illinois ; Theresa, the wife of Captain John Streckfus, also of Rock Island ; Gunda, now Mrs. Michael Maugan, of Davenport ; Hannah, the wife of B. Winter, of Rock Island ; John A.; and Elizabeth, who was the first wife of B. Winter and is now deceased.
J. A. Bartemeier was educated in the parochial schools of Davenport and took a course of one year in the Davenport Business College. After laying his books aside he went to Jackson county, Minnesota, and farmed for five years upon a section of land owned by his father. In the meantime he was married, and, being attracted to his native state, came to Muscatine, where he associated with his father-in-law in farming for three years. Later he entered the hardware business, in which he has since continued with growing success, having gained a liberal patronage not only from the people of the city but from a wide region in this section. He is a member of the board of directors of the German-American Bank and also vice-president of the Muscatine Pearl Novelty Company.
On the 30th of November, 1887, Mr. Bartemeier was married to Miss Catherine Schwab, a native of Buffalo Prairie, Illinois, and a daughter of Michael and Catherine ( Fuhr ) Schwab. Mr. Schwab was born in Germany and his wife in Buffalo, New York. They were early settlers of Buffalo Prairie and have lived in Muscatine county thirty-six years, removing to the city of Muscatine in March, 1910. Six cildren blessed their union, Mary, Lucy, Barbara, Joseph, Catherine, and one who died in infancy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bartemeier seven children were born, one who died ininfancy. John was called away at the age of six and one-half years and Michael at the age of four and one-half years. Those living are Leo, Carl, Edgar, and Blanche.
Mr. and Mrs. Bartemeier are consistent members of the Catholic church and liberal contributors towards its support. Mr. Bartemeier is identified with the Knights of Columbus, The Benevolent and Portective Order of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is in sympathy with the democratic party and strongly endorses its principles, believing that they are best adapted to advance the interests of the individual and the nation. He is a man of good judgment and high character--- one who is not easily discouraged in a worthy undertaking and who generally finds a way to accomplish anything he sets out to do. He is energetic and progressive, a liberal giver to all worthy objects and a sterling champion of the city which he adopted as his home.
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