ALBRECHT, NICHOLAS
Among those citizens of Davenport who though deceased have left behind them a pleasant memory and living influence for good must be numbered Nicholas Albrecht, who was born October 26, 1853, and passed away, March 25, 1908. He was native of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and came here when about sixteen years of age in company with his father, George Albrecht, and two brothers. They were the first members of the Albrecht family to leave the fatherland and, speedily becoming typical pioneers, made the journey to Kansas in a covered wagon and endured many hardships incident to life in a new country. The father spent the remainder of his life in that state and died there not many years ago.
Nicholas Albrecht identified himself with the Tri-Cities by his removal to Moline in the '70s. He subsequently came to Davenport and established himself in the butcher business, starting in on a small scale, but his dealings were such that he soon had a large patronage and by 1891 had prospered sufficiently to build the brick edifice which now stands on the corner of Washington and Leonard streets. Mr. Albrecht's interests were not limited to his trade. He was the promoter of the Davenport Ice & Cold Storage Company, an incorporated concern and one of the largest of its kind in the state. It was organized in 1899.
Mr. Albrecht laid the foundation of a happy home life by his marriage, May 2, 1876, to Miss Anna Stahl, who survives her husband. She was born in Germany and came to this country with her parents. This union was blessed by the birth of eight children. The eldest son, George, who is connected with the business fostered by his father - the Davenport Ice & Cold Storage Company - has been married twice, his first wife being Carrie Jurgens, and his second Laura Blesse. He has two daughter, Vernice and Nathalia. The second son, John, is the manager of the meat market started by his father and has in fact been connected with it ever since he began his business career. He is a native of Davenport, and was married October 8, 1902, to Maria Wiese, their attractive home having as its chief ornament two sons, Harold and Irwin. The other six children are at home. They are: Meta; Alma; Minnie, who serves as her brother John's bookkeeper; Alvina, who attends high school; and Hulda and Walter, both of whom are at school.
Mr. Albrecht found great enjoyment in his fraternal relations, which extended to the Turners, the Knights and Ladies of Honor, and the Woodmen of the World. He was a progressive and public-spirited man, ready to give his support to all good causes, and an earnest champion of education. His school days had been passed in Germany and he was particularly well educated. His mortal remains are interred in Oakdale cemetery, but he will not soon be forgotten in the city in which he spent so long a period of his life, and to whose social and industrial interests he contributed in no small degree.
This bio was extracted from the History of Davenport and Scott County, Vol. I and II, by Harry E. Downer, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. It was transcribed by Deborah Clough Gerischer.