For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 162
JEREMIAH H. CARL. Thirty-three years ago Jeremiah H. Carl, justice of the peace and city police judge of Muscatine, took up his residence in this city. He came to the state before the Civil war and has been one of its wide-awake and progressive citizens, lending his aid to every worthy cause and proving his ability to fill any position to which he may aspire. He was a valiant soldier in the war and has capably discharged every responsibility he has undertaken.He was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1840, and is a son of Christian and Sarah (Kell) Carl, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a stone mason, bricklayer and contractor in the Keystone state and served also as captain in the state militia and held various township offices. He came to Iowa on the 10th of April, 1858, and for ten years engaged in farming in Washington county, removing to Cedar county in 1868, where he purchased a farm three miles northwest of Wilton. There he died in January, 1875, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife departed in 1890 at the age of seventy-six years. They were active workers in the Reformed church and built a church in Pennsylvania, known as the Emanuel church. George Carl, the paternal grandfather, was also a native of Pennsylvania; was of German descent and was a modest, retiring man. He died at the age of seventy-two years and was the father of nine children, three daughters and six sons, George, Adam, Isaiah, Christian, John, Daniel, Fannie, Eliza and Polly. Isaiah and Christian were twins and all the members of the family lived to quite an advanced age. The maternal grandfather, Philip Kell, a native of Pennsylvania, was a farmer and married Elizabeth Swartz. Their children were Joseph, Simon and Sarah.
Unto Christian and Sarah Carl ten children were born: Matilda E., the widow of W. R. Dafford, of Los Angeles, California; Martha Jane, the widow of John Brett, of Oakdale, Nebraska; Emeline E., who became the wife of John T. Long and is now deceased; Jeremiah H., our subject; Frances Catharine, who married George Sweet and is now deceased; Julia Ann, who married David Hiligast and is also deceased; Daniel S., of Imperial, Kansas; Nevin P., of Vinton, Iowa; Floy Effie, who married John Herr, and is now deceased; and Sarah Ann, who died from the effects of being scalded.
Jeremiah H. Carl was educated at Buffalo Valley, Perry county, Pennsylvania, in the district schools. He came to Iowa with his parents when seventeen years of age, and on the 10th of August, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Eighth Iowa Infantry, in the Union cause. He began as a private and later became corporal in his company, serving under Colonel James L. Geddes and participating in many of the great battles, sieges and movements of the war. He was present at the battles of Shiloh, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; the siege of Vicksburg, the second battle of Jackson, the battles of Brandon, Mississippi; Forrest's raid on Memphis, Tennessee; and Spanish Fort, and took part in innumerable skirmishes, being made a prisoner at the battle of Shiloh. Notwithstanding the fact that he was many times exposed to the fire of the enemy he was never wounded. He conducted himself throughout his entire service in such a way as to receive the heartiest commendation of his superior officers.
After being honorably discharged on the 20th of April, 1866, Mr. Carl returned to Washington county, Iowa, and applied himself to the peaceful pursuit of farming. Subsequently he moved to Cedar county and in the fall of 1869 came to Muscatine county, locating in the city of Muscatine in 1877. He was identified with the restaurant and confectionery business for some years and then added a bakery, his place becoming one of the popular establishments of the kind in the city. After twenty-four years spent in business he was appointed city weighmaster for a term of two years and five or six years later was made justice of the peace, which office he now holds, being also elected police judge at the election on 1910.
On the 28th day of November, 1867, Mr. Carl was united in marriage to Miss Lydia E. Long, a daughter of Edmond and Maria (Lease) Long and a native of Washington county, Iowa. Her parents were natives of Virginia and early settlers of Washington county. There were nine children in their family, Nimrod L., John, Lydia, Henry, William, Thomas, Mary, Julia and Emma. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carl: Edith Evelyn, now the widow of John B. Rider and the mother of three children, Helen, William Leon and Fern; Huldah M., living in Freeport, Illinois, who married George E. Tubbs and is the mother of three children, Harold, Blanche and Dorothea; Clara Alice, of Chicago, who is the wife of Darius H. Webb and the mother of four children, Carl, Frances, Luella and Elnora; Ida M., the wife of Oscar L. Stutsman, now living in California; and Durward L., who married Lillian Fuller and is proprietor of a bakery at his father's old stand.
Squire Carl and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and liberal contributors toward its support. Politically he is identified with the republican party and fraternally with Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M. He and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. He is also connected with Shelby Norman Post, No. 231, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was a charter member and is past commander. Coming to the west in his young manhood, he allied himself with its interests and demonstrated his patriotism by service in support of his country when the life of the republic was threatened. Always governed by principles of honor and fidelity to right, he years ago became recognized as one of the substantial and reliable citizens of Muscatine, and no man in the city is more highly honored than the gentleman whose record is here presented.
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