For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 77
FREDERICK WILLIAM EVERSMEYER. Frederick William Eversmeyer, native son and senior member of the law firm of F. W. & Louise Eversmeyer, is widely and favorably known. In addition to practicing as an attorney he is prominently identified with the real-estate, loan and insurance interests. Energetic and reliable in everything he undertakes, he has made steady progress as a lawyer and business man.He was born in Muscatine, October 10, 1871, and is a son of Bernhard Heinrich and Magdalena ( Kuechmann ) Eversmeyer, the former of whom was born in Prussia and the latter in Hessen-Kassel, Germany. They came to America in the same ship in 1850 by way of New Orleans and on their way up the Mississippi river their vessel was frozen in a few miles below St. Louis. Mr. Eversmeyer attended school in St. Louis in the winter in order to earn the English language and arrived in Muscatine in 1853, his future wife having preceded him to this city by two years. They were married in 1853 and Mr. Eversmeyer began business here in the employ of the B. Hershey Lumber Company. He later engaged in teaming and contracting and was street commissioner in 1872 and 1874. In the latter year he established a real-estate, loan and insurance business on Iowa avenue, which prospered well under his management and in which he continued until his death, May 8, 1891, when he was about sixty-seven years of age. His wife was called away August 15, 1908, at the age of seventy-four years. They were members of the German Methodist church, of which he was a stanch supporter, serving as one of the elders and as local preacher for about twelve years. Before coming to this country he served in the war of 1848 in Germany. After his arrival he was for a number of years a republican but later in life he changed his political views and became a strong advocate of the democratic party.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was a farmer in Germany and was the head of a large family, his children being, Frederick, Marie Sophia, Johann Christoph, Bernard Heinrich, Hermann Heinrich, Carl August, and Carl Heinrich. The maternal grandfather was Werner Kuechmann, a native of Hessen-Kassel, Germany. He died of lung fever when about thirty years of age. His wife was Anna Marie Siebert, who came to America with her only child, Magdalena, and departed this life in Muscatine at the age of seventy-six years. To the union of Bernhard and Magdalena Eversmeyer nine children were born: one who died in infancy; Anna Marie, the wife of George R. Leffingwell; Katharine Louise, John Henry, Christian Heinrich, Martha Magdalena, deceased at two years of age; Carl August, who died at the age of about two years; Frederick William, our subject; and Benjamin Ernst.
Frederick W. Eversmeyer received his early education in the public schools and in the Muscatine Business College. Later he became a student in the law department of the State University of Iowa, graduating in 1896, with the degree of LL.B. He was admitted to the bar the same year and began practicing in Muscatine. In 1898 Katharine Louise Eversmeyer, a sister of our subject, graduated from the law department of the State University of Iowa and began practice in partnership with her brother John, they having also purchased their father's business. They continued together until May 1, 1910, when she withdrew from the firmand became associated with her brother Frederick W. under the title of F. W. & Louise Eversmeyer. Mr. Eversmeyer has been highly successful at the bar and among his clients are a number of the best business firms of Muscatine.He is a safe adviser and as a lawyer he has shown a capacity that gives large promise for the future. He is also actively identified with the real-estate, loan and insurance business and is vice president of the Batterson stores and director of the German-American Savings Bank. In addition with these interests he is connected with the Capital & Merchants & Bankers Insurance Company of Des Moines.
On the 28th of June, 1910, Mr. Eversmeyer was united in marriage to Miss Harriet B. Kempter, a daughter of Edward G. and Eliza G. ( Lewis ) Kempter, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Kempter were early settlers of Muscatine, the mother having arrived here in 1851, and they are still living in this city. Mr. Kempter was a soldier in the Civil war, serving in the First Iowa Volunteers and later in the Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteers. There were seven children in their family: Samuel, Catharine Christina, Ewing Lewis, Isabelle, Mary Anna, Jennie and Harriet B. Samuel and Jennie died in early childhood. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Eversmeyer was Samuel G. Lewis, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Iowa in 1851 and died in Muscatine as he landed here. His wife was Mary ( Fischer ) Lewis, and they were the parents of five children: John M., Ewing B., Ruth, Eliza G. and William.
Mr. Eversmeyer is not identified with any religious denomination, although his wife holds membership in the United Brethren church. He affiliates with the republican party and served as justice of the peace from 1901 to 1906 inclusive, discharging his duties in such a way as to receive approval of persons of all political parties. Fraternally he is connected with Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Washington Chapter, No.4, R. A. M.; and Webb Council, No.18, R. & S. M. He is also connected with the Brotherhood of American Yeoman and Muscatine Lodge, No.304, B. P. O. E. He is at present time president of the Huttig hose company. He has been identified with the business life of Muscatine since February, 1890, when he entered his father's office as a clerk, and professionally has been active in Muscatine since 1896. He is a man of varied abilities and, being the possessor of an abundance of energy and grit, is pushing rapidly to the front. His acquaintance is constantly extending and it is greatly to his credit that his best friends are those who have known him ever since his boyhood.
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