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Louis Duclos

Louis Duclos, proprietor of the only hotel and livery in St. Lucas, was born August 16, 1857, gracing the union of M. and Juliana (Stathel) Duclos. His father was born in Germany, November 30, 1819, and in 1826 accompanied his parents to America. The family spent the greater part of the time until 1838 in New York, and then emigrated to Indiana. The father of our subject also worked for seven years in New Orleans. In Indiana, about the year 1844, he married Miss Stathel, who with her people had crossed the Atlantic during childhood, and began their domestic life in the Hoosier State, and after six years came to St. Lucas, where they have since resided. Mr. Duclos traded with the Indians and associated with them at the Old Mission Reservation for several years after here locating. He was one of the pioneers of the county and has resided in Auburn Township for over forty years. There are few in the county who do not know or have not heard of Mr. Duclos. In the family were thirteen children - Mathias, Philomena, Mary, Juliana, Anthony, Louis, Frances, Emma, Lena, Mathias, Barbara, Nicholas and Elizabeth, but five are now deceased; Mathias, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Mary and Philomena. Anthony married Barbara Rosenbaum, by whom he has eight children, and their home is on a fine farm in Winneshiek County; Frances married D. Bies, and with their five children they live on a farm in Dakota; Annie is the wife of J. Bies, and their home in Dakota is blessed with seven children; Mathias, who wedded Mary Bies, by whom he has two children, and resides in Dakota, was so fortunate as to strike a vein of natural gas while boring for water on his farm. The supply seems to be inexhaustible, and he utilizes it for fuel and light. He has received very flattering inducements to light the town of Salem from his well, and will probably realize a fine fortune from it at no distant day.

Our subject was born in the little village of St. Lucas thirty-seven years ago, and has made this place his home throughout his entire life. He was married October 29, 1873, to Miss Caroline, daughter of Harmon and Nettie Cweibahmer, natives of Germany, who in 1853 came to America and located in Winneshiek County, Iowa. The family numbered the following children: Harmon, who wedded Mary Imerst, and resides in Winneshiek County, where he follows farming. They had eight children, but lost one at the age of two years; Frederick, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits with his elder brother, married Anna Haughhamer, and they are now parents of three children; Gertrude is the wife of Andrew Rosenbaum, who resides near Festina, Iowa; Clem, who married Lizzie Schroeder, is living near Ossian, Iowa.

Mrs. Duclos, the wife of our subject, was born December 25, 1858, in Winneshiek County, and by her marriage has seven children: Henry, who was born September 10, 1880; Mathias, February 28, 1882; Louis, December 4, 1883; Magdalena, July 7, 1884; Harmon, March 15, 1886; Andrew, who was born December 4, 1887, and died May 26, 1888; Anthony, born May 9, 1889. The children enjoy the privileges of the public schools in the village, and attend the parochial school where the German language, together with the catechism and other features relating to the church, are taught.

Mr. and Mrs. Duclos are members of St. Lucas Congregation, Roman Catholic Church. He is a pleasant, genial man who enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He is doing a fine business in his line, having the only hotel in the place, and also gets quite a little income from the livery business.

(Note: Birth dates of the children of Louis & Caroline Duclos are as listed in the source; obviously there is an error in the birth dates of either Louis or Magdalena as there is only seven months between the dates listed.)