Henry Gramlich
Henry Gramlich, one of the progressive and representative
farmers of Allamakee county, residing on a well improved property
of two hundred acres on sections 18 and 19, Lansing township, was
born upon this farm September 27, 1859. He is a son of Ernst F.
Gramlich, one of the pioneers in Iowa, his residence in this
state dating from 1856. He was born in Baden, Germany, February
22, 1826, and as a young man emigrated to America, where he first
located in Ohio. He learned there the blacksmith’s trade and
worked at it successfully until he came to Iowa, purchasing in
1856 eighty acres of unimproved land in Allamakee county. He
steadily carried forward the work of developing this property,
building upon it a log house, in which he and his family lived
for many years and which is still standing upon the homestead.
Later Mr. Gramlich built a comfortable frame residence and in
this made his home until he retired from active life about
twenty-five years ago. The declining years of his life were spent
at the home of his daughter Mrs. Frank Goettle, of Lansing
township, and he there died December 16, 1905. He was a man of
exemplary character and sterling worth, holding membership in the
German Methodist Episcopal church, helping in the organization of
the congregation and in the erection of the house of worship. He
married in Ohio Miss Mary Kutcher, a native of Germany, born May
1, 1826. She passed away in Allamakee county in 1907. They became
the parents of six children: George, who was born in Ohio and who
passed away when he was still a child; John, a native of
Allamakee county, also deceased; Mary, the wife of Henry Lenz, of
Center township; Henry, of this review; Katie, who died at the
age of eighteen; and Emma, who married Frank Goettle of Lansing
township.
Henry Gramlich acquired his education in the district schools of
Lansing township and his childhood was similar to that of most
farmers’ sons in those days, his time being divided between
his studies and work upon the homestead. After his father died he
purchased the interest of the other heirs and assumed entire
control of the farm, which is his today and which by practical
and well directed labor he has made one of the finest properties
in this vicinity. The land lies on sections 18 and 19 and
comprises two hundred acres, upon which he engages in general
farming.
Mr. Gramlich married, in Allamakee county, May 22, 1888, Miss
Christina Kumpf, a daughter of Fred and Dorothea Kumpf, natives
of Germany. The parents were married in Dubuque, Iowa, and came
to Allamakee county at an early day, and the father here engaged
in farming until his death. His wife has also passed away. Mr.
and Mrs. Gramlich became the parents of four children: Flora
Emma, the wife of Ed Wessel, of Clayton county, Iowa; and Ella
Jeannette, Ed Frederick and Henry Dewey, all whom live at home.
The parents are members of the German Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Gramlich is a stanch republican in his political views and
has held some responsible official positions, serving for twenty
years as secretary of the school board and for twelve years as
school director. In 1912 he was elected township trustee and is
still serving, discharging his duties in an able and
conscientious way. A resident of Allamakee county since his
birth, he is well known here and by a life upright and honorable
in all its relations has won the favorable regard of his
neighbors. His success in the conduct of his farm places him in
the front ranks of progressive agriculturists and he is
undoubtedly a native son of whom the county has every reason to
be proud.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index