MATT GAASCH, engaged in the clothing and gent's furnishing goods business at Urbana, in
which he has met with more than ordinary success, was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, May
15, 1857, and is a son of John and Catherine (Schauber) Gaasch, natives of Germany. The
parents emigrated to the United States in 1848, and are at present residing in Urbana,
having moved there about eighteen years ago from Dubuque County.
Matt Gaasch was raised on a farm, and came to this county with his parents, locating with
them on a farm about two miles north of the village of Urbana, where the parents lived for
two years, and thence moved into the village. Our subject was educated in the common
schools, receiving the benefit of one year's attendance at Mt. Vernon College. He was
married, on the 9th of May, 1883, to Miss Myra, daughter of Dr. James McCully, residing
three miles northwest of Urbana. Mr. Gaasch, after leaving the farm, engaged in clerking
for J. D. Burrell, and was thus occupied for about ten years. In the fall of 1882 he
opened his present business, and since that time has conducted the same with no small
degree of success.
Mr. and Mrs. Gaasch are the parents of one child, a son, James Earl, born July 31, 1884.
He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, belonging to a congregation
at Urbana. Our subject is a member of Altar Lodge, No. 362, A. F. & A. M., of Urbana
Lodge, No. 328, I. O. O. F., and of the encampment at Vinton. Politically he votes the
Democratic ticket. He has held the office of Township Clerk, and is one of Urbana's
honored and respected citizens. The father and mother of our subject are members of the
Catholic Church, and the parents of Mrs. Gaasch belong to the Baptist Church.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 279-280.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on February 9th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.