For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 88
J. HERMAN MUNDT, is a native of Germany and has passed twenty-five years in Muscatine, gaining a reputation as one of its thoroughly competent and reliable citizens. He is a man of good discrimination and sound judgment, also possessing executive ability which is so necessary in the successful conduct of business affairs, and is now conducting a prosperous carriage and wagon manufactory.He was born November 7, 1862, and is a son of Hans and Catharine ( Klindt ) Mundt, both of whom were born in Germany. The father came to America in 1866 and settled in Davenport, where he is still living. He began as a laborer and later operated a brickyard for eighteen years, finally becoming a successful farmer. In the old country he served in the regular army and the training which he then received proved of great benefit to him after he took up his abode among strangers. He has now reached the age of seventy-seven years and is retired. His wife was called away March 14, 1879, at the age of forty-six years. The parental grandfather of our subject was a native of Germany and was accidently killed by being struck by a wagon tongue. Ten children were born to Hans and Catharine Mundt: Henry, of Davenport; Bertha, the widow of Frank Bradow, of Davenport; Catharine, who is the wife of John W. Buck of Davenport and is now deceased; J. Herman., our subject; William, now living near Hartley Iowa; Minnie, who died at the age of three years; Emil, living near Everett, Iowa; Minnie ( II ), who died at the age of nineteen years; Albert, who died at twenty-seven years of age, and Rudolph, Of Tama.
J. Herman Mundt was not quite four years old when he came with his parents to America. He was educated in the public schools of Davenport and began his business career by working in a brickyard. At nineteen years of age he began learning the carriage blacksmithing trade, with which he has ever since been identified. He came to Muscatine in 1885 and entered the employ of J. P Ament, with whom he continued for a number of years. In 1894 he associated with David Vanatta in the carriage and implement business, which grew rapidly under their management. He acquired the interest of his partner in 1899 and discontinued the implement department, devoting his attention to the manufacture of carriages. In 1906 he removed to his present location at 414 East Third street and has since concentrated his energies with highly gratifying results to both carriage and wagon manufacturing, the establishment now being one of the most prosperous of its kind in eastern Iowa.
On the 24th of October, 1888, Mr. Mundt was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta B. Tuerk, of Muscatine, a daughter of John and Margaret Tuerk. The father was a native of Prussia and the mother of Bavaria, Germany. They were early settlers of this city and were the parents of five children: Geroge; Minnie; Henrietta; John, decesed; and Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Mundt have two children, Irma and Mildred, the former of whom is a graduate of the Muscatine high school and also of the Brown business College, in which she is now an assistant teacher.
Mrs. Mundt is a member of the Lutheran church and a stanch believer in the authority and inspiration of the Bible. Mr. Mundt politically is an adherent of the democratic party. From his youth upward he has been a worker, and the success he has attained is attributable to his own efforts. By concentration of his energies he early developed a strength of will which is so important in the battle with the world and which when wisely directed leads to the attainment of every laudable ambition.
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