For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 60
LOUIS FIDERLEIN. A good education acquired early in life and balanced by sound judgment and ability to apply himself closely to everything he undertook enabled Louis Fiderlein to become an acknowledged leader in Muscatine county. Although a native of a foreign land, he readily adapted himself to the customs and ideas of a republic and when he was called from earthly labors January 21, 1910, being then in the seventy-eighth year of his age, the county lost one of its most useful citizens---one who clearly demonstrated that the more intelligence a man possesses, the better farmer he my become.He was born in Baden, Germany, December 21, 1832. His mother was a strong advocate of education and gave her son every advantage that could be desired in a country where opportinities for mental training are unsurpassed. The son became thoroughly familiar with four languages: German, French, Latin and English, and could have succeeded admirably as a professional man had he so desired. However, his mind turned to the new world and he decided to cast his fortune with America as the most favorable country in the world for a young man possessed with laudable ambition. Accordingly, when nineteen years if age he crossed the ocean and located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained for five years, then removing to Rock Island, Illinois, in which region he engaged in farming with a goodly measure of success. In 1878 he sold out and moved to Muscatine county, Iowa, becoming identified with Goshen township. He began with a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which he cultivated with such success that at the time of his death he was the owner of seven hundred acres, all under a high state of cultivation. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, was gifted with a well balanced mind, was a wise counselor and held a prominent place among his fellowmen.
On the 13th of September, 1857, Mr. Fiderlein was united in marriage to Miss Julia Gregg, a daughter of Nathan Gregg, of Clark county, Illinois. Of this union twelve children were born, seven of whom are now living, namely: Eliza, Isabel, James, Lorena, William, Wilhelmina and Eloise. The mother of these children passed away in 1879, Mr. Fiderlein was again marriedDecember 19, 1883, the lady of his choice being Miss Maggie Shetler, who was born in Greensboro, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1853, a daughter of Jonas and Harriet ( Hayes ) Shetler. Five children came to bless this union, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: Ernest G., born November 4, 1884, who received a good education and is now living on the family homestead; Frank L., who was born July 10, 1886, and is a graduate of the Atalissa high school; Emma A., who was born July 24, 1890, who graduated from the Atalissa high school and also attended the State Normal at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and who has taught school for the past three years, beginning before she was seventeen years of age; and Clella K., born July 5, 1893, who is now a pupil in the Atalissa high school, a member of the class of 1911.
Mr. Fiderlein politically gave his support to the republican party, believing that by so doing he best advanced the interests of the country. He was not a member of any religious denomination, but other members of the family are stanch believers in the authority and inspiration of the Bible. He was a highly intellectual man and kept well informed as to the progress of events in the world, being also an earnest friend of education. He will be remembered as a most estimable and highly respected citizen whose well directed efforts in behalf of his family and of his fellowmen fully entitle him to the profound respect in which he is held.
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