Germany

Biography of Nicholas Gosler

Nicholas Gosler. In 1881, at the age of sixteen, alone and without capital, Nicholas Gosler came from his native home in Germany and settled in Chase County, Kansas. At the farm of Charles W. Rogler, one of the old German settlers of that county, he found work as a hand at stipulated wages of $100 per year. The Rogler farm was a mile and a half north of Matfield Green. Mr. Gosler arrived in Chase County on Christmas Day of 1881, and thereafter for ten years steadily worked on the Rogler farm. He was by no means an ordinary farm … Read more

Biography of Aaron Freidenrich

Aaron Freidenrich, one of the most prominent merchants of Grangeville, and the managing member of the firm of Alexander & Freidenrich, wholesale and retail dealers in general merchandise, is in control of the largest establishment of the kind in the town, and perhaps no town of equal proportion in the entire country can boast of a better or more extensive store. The success of this enterprise is due to him whose name begins this sketch, a most energetic and progressive man, whose sound judgment is supplemented by industry and honorable methods. These qualities have brought to him a most creditable … Read more

Biography of Robert Focht

Robert Focht, a sterling newspaper man of Kansas, is editor and proprietor of the Democratic Messenger, the only democratic paper published in Greenwood County. Mr. Focht had been a resident of Kansas since boyhood, and his family were pioneers of Greenwood County, and the different members have borne more than their individual share in its development and destiny. As the name indicates, the family is of German origin. The first American was George Focht. When a youth he left Germany and made the passage to America on a sailing vessel, arriving in the colonies when the Revolutionary war was still … Read more

Biography of Henry W. Schroeder

Henry W. Schroeder has been in active business as a merchant at Chase for a quarter of a century, and now had the largest general store in that part of Rice County. His distinction rests not solely upon his business success, but also upon an active and public spirited performance of many public duties. Mr. Schroeder was born in Germany, February 1, 1872, but had lived in Kansas since he was seven years of age. His father, Fred Schroeder, born in Germany in 1848, brought his family to the United States in 1879, and first located at Great Bend, Kansas, … Read more

Biography of John C. Kruse

John C. Kruse is one of Champaign’s oldest business men in point of continuous service, having lived in that city for almost half a century. He has been an independent merchant for over forty-five years, and he has wisely looked after and directed the business training of his sons and assisted each one to get established in business. Mr. Kruse is a native of Germany, where he was born July 23, 1840, son of John O. and Minnie (Martens) Kruse. His parents spent all their lives in Germany. John C. Kruse had that substantial training afforded by the public school … Read more

Biography of Simon J. Friedman

One of the pioneer merchants and enterprising, progressive business men of Hailey, Simon J. Friedman, was born in Germany, April 5, 1846, a son of Itzig and Bertha (Usher) Friedman, also natives of that country. The father is still living, at the age of ninety years. Our subject was educated in Germany, gained his mercantile experience in his father’s store, and in 1869, when twenty-three years of age, came to the United States, for he had heard of the superior advantages and facilities afforded young men in the new world, and resolved to win success here if possible. He first … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William J. Brandt

Brandt, William J.; machinist and garage owner; born, Germany, Sept. 10, 1882; son of F. J. and M. Prahl Brandt; educated, public schools; married, Cleveland, O., October, 1905, Betha Yeaske; started in the automobile business in 1906, after working at the machinists’ trade for 10 years; owner of The Brandt Motor Car Co.

Biography of Joel H. Rickel

Joel H. Rickel. Among the citizens of Chanute, one who had had a most interesting career is Joel H. Rickel, a resident of this city since 1896, and now the owner of a carriage and repair shop and the owner of a valuable farm. Mr. Rickel is a veteran of the Civil war, and had been a prominent figure in Grand Army circles, being a past commander of several posts in Kansas and a past department commander of the State of Kansas. He was born in Ashland County, Ohio, December 8, 1844, and is a son of John S. and … Read more

Biography of Henry William Wulfekuhler

Henry William Wulfekuhler. The late Henry William Wulfekuhler, who helped to build the City of Leavenworth and for nearly a half century was identified with its commercial and financial history, was of German nativity, his birth having occurred at Osnabruck, in the Province of Hanover, August 9, 1834. His father and grandfather before him, both named Christopher, together with their immediate ancestors, lived and died there at the old place which gave them birth. The mother of Henry W. Wulfekuhler was Charlotta, daughter of William Wissman, and was from Versmold, Prussia. The early years of Henry W. Wulfekuhler were passed … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wilhelm Otto Roesch

WILHELM OTTO ROESCH. – The brewery of Pendleton, Oregon, is operated by Mr. Roesch, a man who has had long experience in all the processes of manufacturing the beverage. Born in Germany in 1855, he came to America in1870, working in a brewery. He followed the same business in San Francisco in 1874; at Steilacoom in 1886; at Portland until 1888. At Port Townsend he built a brewery for himself, running it two years. At Heppner, in 1880, he operated his own brewery one year. In 1882 he returned to Germany, marrying Miss Anna Rapps. Returning to Oregon, he is … Read more

Biography of George E. Weaver

George E. Weaver. One of the most important offices in a municipality is that of city engineer. The permanence, the efficiency, the economy of operation of practically every public improvement and public convenience depends upon the skill exercised by the engineer in planning and supervising the construction of such improvements. That had been the work of George E. Weaver at Independence, who is now serving his second term as city engineer. In the past three years the city had undertaken an exceptionally heavy amount of paving, sewer construction and other forms of improvement, and the citizens give Mr. Weaver great … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Streitberger

Streitberger, Jacob; born, June 23, 1871; Germany; son of Jacob and Carolyn Streitberger; educated, Germany; married, Meadville, Pa., July 4, 1895, Lena Duer; three children; member Eagles and Foresters.

Biography of Harry E. Coulter

Harry E. Coulter. One of the old and reliable business establishments of Chanute which has enjoyed a steadily increasing patronage ever since the time of its inception is the Coulter Transfer and Storage Company, in which two generations of a family have been interested. Founded by the father, the policy, of the business under his direction was based upon strict honesty and honorable principles, and this same course has been followed by the son. The present owner of the business is Harry E. Coulter, a man of broad and diversified experience in business, and a citizen who has contributed through … Read more

Biography of William Sherman Timmons

William Sherman Timmons. One of the highly respected residents and leading business men of Riley, Kansas, is William Sherman Timmons, owner of a lumber yard and dealing also in coal and grain. He belongs to old American stock, his ancestors for generations having resided in one or other of the great states of the Union. There is present in almost every individual, be his station in life what it may, a latent pride of ancestry and a pleasure in being able to trace a clear line far back in the silence of the past. Sometimes men and women offer fortunes … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Jacobs

John Jacobs, of Germany, came to America and settled in Virginia, where he married Sarah Crawford. Their children were David, John, Peter, William, Elizabeth C., and Susan H. William married Margaret A., daughter of Daniel McDaniel and Mary Anderson, who were natives of Edinburgh, Scotland. By her he had Charles A., George R., Mary, Anna, Sallie, Sophia, and Catharine H. Mr. Jacobs died in Virginia in 1828, and in 1831 his widow removed to Missouri and settled in Montgomery County, where she died in 1850. Charles, who was a wealthy merchant of New Orleans, died without marrying. George R., who … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Albert Morreau

Morreau, Albert; pres. Morreau Gas Fixture Co.; born, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Aug. 17, 1861; son of Leopold and Amelia Morreau; educated in public schools of native place; married, Cleveland, Jan. 7, 1893, Lea Nora Heller; issue, two sons, Myron H., and Leopold S.; worked in dry goods store in Frankfurt, for five years; went to Manchester, England, in export house, as asst. correspondent in German, French and English languages; came to Cleveland; for five years stock clerk for Landesman, Hirschheimer & Co.; started in business for himself in 1887; from a small business, the Morreau Gas Fixture Co. has grown to … Read more

Biography of John V. Cortelyou

John V. Cortelyou, who took the chair of German at the Kansas State Agricultural College in 1904, was at that time only recently returned from Germany. Professor Cortelyou holds his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Heidelberg University, though he is an American by birth and training, and represents a long and interesting lineage of some of the old Dutch families of New Jersey. He was born on a farm near Harlingen in Somerset County, New Jersey, September 19, 1874. He is a son of John G. and Mary (Van Zandt) Cortelyou, both natives of New Jersey and in both lines … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Albert W. Laws

Laws, Albert W.; mason contractor; born, Germany, Aug. 19, 1869; son of Anton and Anna Dreier Laws; educated, Liebenthal, Germany, and St. Mary’s School, Cleveland; married, Cleveland, July 2, 1892, Henrietta Frederick; issue, two children.

Biographical Sketch of Conrad Yate

Conrad Yate, of Germany, came to America and settled first in Virginia, where he married. In 1818 he came to Missouri and settled in Warren County. During his residence here he built four mills (one run by water, two by horses, and one by oxen), and one distillery. His children were Joseph, Peter S., Polly, Elizabeth, Nancy, Henry, Sarah, Catharine, Charles, and George W. Joseph married Polly Phoenix, and settled in Pike Co., Mo. Polly married John Johnson, of Pike County. Elizabeth married Joseph King, of Montgomery County. Nancy married Colonel Reuben Pew, of Montgomery County. Henry married Susan Shields, … Read more

Biography of Frederik Gustave Bardenheier, M. D.

Dr. Frederik Gustave Adolph Bardenheier, who is well known in professional circles as a specialist in the treatment of diseases Of the ear, nose and throat, was born in St. Louis, April 13, 1881, and he has chosen to make the city of his nativity the scene of his professional labors and successes. His father, Philipp Bardenheier, came to the United States in the early ’50s and won success along commercial line. The mother, Mrs. Helen Bardenheier, arrived in this country from the Rhine region of Germany some time after her future husband crossed the Atlantic. Dr. Bardenheier was educated … Read more