SCHROEDER, W. F.

SCHROEDER, BRANDT, BARTZ, JULSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 2/3/2011 at 16:49:53

W. F. Schroeder is a well known and representative farmer of Mitchell county living on section 13 and 14, St. Ansgar township. He was born December 27, 1861, in Prussia, Germany, and came to America in 1876 with his parents, W. F. and Friderika Schroeder, who settled in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where they resided for nine months. They then removed to Spring Valley, Minnesota, where they lived until 1878, when they became residents of Rock Creek, Mitchell county, Iowa, where the father purchased fifty-five acres of land.

He afterward sold that property and removed to a farm northeast of St. Ansgar, where his son Herman now resides. Upon that farm the father passed away February 19, 1911, but the mother is still living. In their family were five children: Albert, who is a re­tired farmer of St. Ansgar; W. F.; Herman, who follows farming in St. Ansgar township; Louise, who is living in Spring Valley, Minnesota; and Emilia, a resi­dent of St. Ansgar, who married Fred Brandt.

W. F. Schroeder acquired his education in the schools of Germany, supple­mented by two terms' study in the common schools of Mitchell county, through the winter seasons: He continued with his father until he reached the age of nine­teen years, after which he worked with a threshing machine gang until he became twenty-eight years of age. He then began farming on his own account, renting land for ten years and during that period he carefully saved his earnings until the sum had become sufficient to enable him to purchase his present farm property, in 1900. It is pleasantly and conveniently situated a half mile north of St. Ansgar and is an excellent tract of land which responds readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it, bringing forth substantial harvests. It is well improved and everything about the place indicates his careful supervision and practical, progres­sive methods. He is also a stockholder in the Cooperative Lumber & Grain Com­pany and in the Cooperative Creamery Company.

On October 10, 1889, Mr. Schroeder was united in marriage to Miss Antonia Bartz, who was born in Wisconsin but came to Mitchell county, Iowa, during her childhood days with her father, August Bartz. To Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder have been born five children: Oscar, who is connected with a furniture store in St. Ansgar; Elvin, at home; Mabel, the wife of J. Julson; and Eleanor and Laura, both at home.

The family are members of the German Lutheran church. Politically Mr. Schroeder maintains an independent course, voting for the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for public office. He has served on the school board of Newburg township for two years but is not desirous of filling public positions, pre­ferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs, which have been carefully and wisely directed and have brought to him a substantial measure of success.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1918, Page 390.