For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 608
GOTTLIEB EHRECKE....Gottlieb Ehrecke, who was called to his final rest on the 16th of January, 1898, was for many years numbered among the substantial and representative farmers and stockman of Muscatine county and at the time of his death owned three hundred and eighty-three acres of land in Fulton township. His birth occurred in Germany in 1815 and in that country the first thirty-seven years of his life were spent. In 1852 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, first locating in Davenport, Iowa, while a short time afterward he came to Muscatine county. Here he secured employment by the day, working for a few years at a wage of fifty cents per day. In 1856 he purchased forty acres of land, grubbed out the timber and improved the tract on a small scale, making his home thereon until 1872. In that year he extended the boundaries of his farm to include two hundred and twenty-three acres and removed to that part of the place on which the buildings are now situated. At the time of his demise he owned three hundred and eighty-three acres of well improved and valuable land in Fulton township, his property being the visible evidence of his life of well directed industry, thrift and enterprise. In connection with the tilling of the soil he made a specialty of handling stock, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income.Mr. Ehrecke was married twice. By his first wife, a Miss Koeppe, whom he wedded in Germany, he had seven children, three of whom died in the fatherland. The others came to America and are all now living in Iowa. They are as follows : Mary, who was born on the 7th of January, 1843 ; Bertha, whose birth occurred August 6, 1844 ; Augusta, whose natal day was October 18, 1845 ; and Emma, who first opened her eyes to the light of day on the 15th of October , 1850. The wife and mother passed away in 1850 and soon afterward Mr. Ehrecke wedded Miss Johanna Schmelzer, the ceremony taking place just prior to their emigration to the new world. Miss Schmelzer was a native of Germany, born on the 20th of June, 1829, and by her marriage she became the mother of eight children. Herman, whose birth occurred on the 26th of November, 1852, still resides on the old homestead farm, of which he owns a third interest and also forty-five acres more. He likewise owns a third interest in a Minnesota farm and is a stockholder in the Blue Grass Savings Bank and the American Security Company of Davenport, Iowa. In public office he has also made a creditable record, having served as road supervisor for eight years and as a member of the school board for four years. Charlotte, who was born on the 30th of May, 1854, died on the 11th of November, 1909. She was the wife of John Laschanzky, of Clinton county, Iowa, and left seven children to mourn her loss. A sketch of Rudolph Ehrecke appears on another page in this volume. Ida, whose natal day wasSeptember 23, 1858, is the wife of Henry Plett, of Scott county, Iowa, and the mother of five children. Charles, who was born on the 17th of January, 1861, attended the common schools and also pursued a commercial course in Wilton Academy, being a graduate of that institution. He resides on the old home place, owning a third interest in the property, and also has a third interest in two hundred acres of land in Minnesota. He is a fancier of Norman and Percheron horses, shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. The Blue Grass Savings Bank numbers him among its charter members and stockholders and he has served as a director of that institution since its establishment. He is likewise a stockholder in the Guaranty Mutual Life Insurance Company, The American Security Company and the Great Western Remedy Company, all of Davenport, Iowa. His political allegiance is given to the democracy and for fourteen years he ably served in the capacity of township assessor. Amelia, the sixth child of Mr. and Mrs. Ehrecke, was born on the 18th of June, 1863, and gave her hand in marriage to Henry Ahrens, of Cedar county, Iowa, by whom she has five children. Mr. and Mrs Ahrens own a farm of one hundred and eighty acres. Emil, whose birth occurred in April, 1868, passed away on the 12th of November, 1906, leaving a widow and two children to mourn his loss. His widow still resides on the old homestead with her brothers-in-law. Lena Ehrecke, who was born in 1865, died in March, 1866.
Gottlieb Ehrecke, of this review, died on the 16th of January, 1898, while his wife was called to her final rest on the 7th of December, 1900, both passing away in the faith of the Lutheran church. Their remains were interred in the Blue Grass cemetery of Scott county. The hope that led Mr. Ehrecke to leave his native land and seek a home in America was more than realized, for here he found the opportunities he sought and in their utilization won a place among the respected citizens of his community.
Back to Biographical Index Page