Rev. F. W. Seifert, pastor of the Lutheran church at Read, was born in Dukedom of Brunswick, Germany, on March 16, 1831. His parents, Charles and Rebecca Seifert, were likewise natives of that country, and both died there. He was a soldier in the German army and a contractor for buildings in Germany until 1858, when he came to the United States. He came directly to Clayton County and worked in a saw-mill in Volga Township one year. He had the misfortune to have one of his legs frozen, and amputation became necessary. He then began studying for the ministry, and in 1862 he received his present charge. He was regularly ordained at Quincy, Ill., in 1865. On Jan. 12, 1866, he was united in marriage to Catherine Ruckdacsch *, whose parents, Ernst and Catherine Ruckdacsch, nee Hosch, were natives of Bavaria. They are now residents of Grand Meadow Township, Ia. To them have been born eight children-- Ernst, born Oct. 28, 1866 (deceased); Ann, Feb. 22, 1868; Louisa, Feb. 1, 1870; Mary, Feb. 25, 1872; Amelia, Apr. 8, 1874; Sophia, Dec. 7, 1876; Fritz, Jan. 29, 1878, and an infant, Sept. 15, 1881. Mr. Seifert is a man of high literary attainments and superior oratorical powers. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1077-1078 *Ruckdaschel |