Henry Oelke. Among the more
prominent citizens well known and respected in the
business circles of Farmersburg, Clayton County,
Iowa, may be found the subject of this biography, who
holds the office of Postmaster, and is also a wealthy
merchant of Farmersburg.
He was born at Hanover, Germany, September 10, 1844.
His father, William Oelke, was a native of the same
country, and was born there February 26, 1818. He
followed the trade of a carpenter for quite a number
of years, then later went to farming. He was married
at Hanover to Miss Elizabeth Wilruth, who was born
there in 1817. They emigrated to America in the year
1851, and located in Farmersburg Township on section
16, remaining on it for about six or seven months,
when they removed to Read Township, where they
remained for seven or eight years. Again moving to
Farmersburg Township they purchased a piece of land
on section 28, on which they lived. This land at the
time of its purchase was a wild and uncultivated
prairie, but to-day it may be seen vastly improved
and bearing an abundant harvest. In 1869 they settled
in Garnavillo Township, purchasing there a piece of
improved property, on which he resided until about
the year 1880, when he moved to Garnavillo and
remained until his death, which occurred on the 15th
of August, 1888. He was a Democrat in politics, and
was well posted on all matters both of local and
national importance. He need never regret having
emigrated to this country, although at times the
prospect seemed dark and uninviting, for he has with
his untiring perseverance and hard labor acquired a
competency for his family. They were the parents of
four children, all of whom are living. They are as
follows: William H.; Henry, our subject; August and
Bertha. William H. served his country in the late
war. The father now peacefully sleeps under the green
sod and the weeping willows of Garnavillo Cemetery.
The subject of this sketch was a mere child when he
came to this country, and remembers nothing more than
the time spent on the ocean, which was fourteen weeks
and three days. He attended the public schools of
Clayton County, and also the German school at
Garnavillo. When twenty-three years of age he was
compelled to seek his fortune, and, having been
reared on a farm, he decided to follow that vocation.
In the spring of 1874, he removed to the village of
Garnavillo, and engaged in teaming and farming there
for thirteen years, when he came to the town of
Farmersburg in the year 1887 and bought out the
merchandise business of H. Knudson; he has since
remodeled the building and increased the stock, which
now is estimated at from $12,000 to $16,000. He
carries a general line of merchandise and is
interested also in a lumber and grain business.
In 1867 he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza B.
Schelermann, who is a native of Germany and came to
this country about the year 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Oelke
were the parents of seven children, five of whom are
living, and are as follows: Christ, Henry, Edwin,
Arnold and Katie. The parents are both valued members
of the Lutheran Church.
Socially, Mr. Oelke is a member of the masonic order
and also of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In
politics he is a stanch Democrat, and takes an active
part in all issues, both local and national. He was
Postmaster during Cleveland's first term, and was
again appointed to that position in 1893. Mr. Oelke
is the Treasurer of the School Board.