John Anderegg, a retired farmer who
now makes his home in Guttenberg, has been for over
forty years identified with the development and
progress of Clayton County; when he first set eyes
upon it, it was a wild uncultivated piece of prairie,
sparsely settled and having but little promise of the
great future before it. By his assistance and that of
the many worthy pioneers who located here in the
early '50s, thereafter devoting their energies to its
improvement and cultivation, it has come to be known
as one of the best and most fertile counties in the
sisterhood of the State.
Samuel Anderegg, father of our subject, was born in
Switzerland, where he lived until after his marriage,
and then started for America, becoming a resident of
Indiana, in which state his death occurred in 1873.
His wife, who before her marriage was Barbara
Hoobler, was also a native of Switzerland and
departed this life in Ohio. Their son, John, was born
June 12, 1824, in the land of the Alps, and until
reaching his majority, resided in that picturesque
and far-famed country. It was his privilege to
receive a good general school education, and by his
studies as well as from friends he learned of the
advantages afforded to the native and adopted sons of
America, and early made up his mind he would journey
to the western part of the United States. On may 16,
1845, after a tedious journey on the ocean he landed
in New York City, and from there went to Ohio, where
he continued to reside for eight years. In 1853, as
we have previously related, he became one of the
pioneers of Clayton County, settling on a farm in
Jefferson Township, near where the village of
Guttenberg now stands.
August 3, 1862, Mr. Anderegg volunteered his services
in the defense of his adopted country, donning the
blue and enlisting as a member of Company D,
Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry. For meritorious and
valiant service he was promoted from the ranks to be
Second, and subsequently first Lieutenant. With his
regiment he participated in many important
engagements and battles, among them, Little Rock and
Memphis, afterward being sent on the Red River
Expedition. In 1864 he was mustered out at Memphis,
Tenn., receiving an honorable discharge. Returning to
Clayton County he continued for some twenty years
longer to operate his valuable farm, which he carried
on until 1884, when he retired from its arduous
duties. He has just sold his farm of two hundred and
ten acres of good farm land, all of which is under
fine cultivation, and well improved with substantial
farm buildings, fences, etc. to his son, Charles G.
In 1846, the year after his arrival in America, Mr.
Anderegg married Miss Magdalena Menger, who was a
native of Germany. To them were born five sons and
three daughters, John, Lizzie, William, Charles G.,
Julius, Lydia, Emma and Herman F. The devoted wife
and mother, who for nearly forty years had been the
trusted and faithful companion and helpmate of Mr.
Anderegg, was called from this life in 1884, leaving
many friends to mourn her loss. The present wife of
our subject was formerly Louise Frieze, and their
marriage was celebrated in 1884. Of this union has
been born one child, Mattie by name.
In public and local affairs, Mr. Anderegg has always
been interested, taking his share, and doing all in
his power to advance the best interests of the
community. The boys in blue have ever occupied a warm
place in his heart, and he is a charter member and
one of the founders of Hasen Deufel Post No. 146,
G.A.R. Politically, he votes with the Republican
party.