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From: Debbie Clough Gerischer <>
Subject: [IASCOTT] Claus Kroeger, Bio
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2000 13:11:00 -0700


Posted on: Scott County Biographies
Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/ScottBios?read=963

Surname: Kroeger, Lage, Goettsch, Bolt
-------------------------

"From Vol 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer -
S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago

Claus Kroeger is numbered among those representative German-American citizens
who came to this country from the fatherland and here found the opportunities
for advancement which they sought along business lines. He is numbered
among the old German settlers of Scott county and for almost four decades
was actively and helpfully identified with its agricultural interests.
As the result of energy, perseverance and well directed efforts he is now
able to spend the evening of life in retirement, enjoying in well earned
rest the fruits of former years of toil. Born in Holstein, Germany, on
the 14th of April, 1829, he is a son of Hans and Lena Kroeger, whose entire
lives were spent in the fatherland.

For the educational advantages which Mr. Kroeger enjoyed during the period
of his boyhood and youth he is indebted to the common schools of his native
country, and he remained under the parental roof until the outbreak of
the war of 1848-50 with Denmark, when he joined the German army and served
throughout the period of hostilities. Returning home, he remained with
his parents until 1854, when he responded to the call of the new world
and, bidding adieu to home and fatherland, sailed for the United States,
hoping to find better opportunities for advancement in business than were
offered in the old world. He left Germany on the 15th of March and upon
arriving in this country came direct to Davenport, which point he reached
on the 20th of May, more than two months being consumed by the journey.
His first work here was in the capacity of farm hand and thus he labored
by the month for about six years. His inherent characteristic of thrift
prompted him to carefully save his earnings and at the expiration of that
period, feeling that the capital which he had accumulated was sufficient
to justify such a step, he established a home of his own by his marriage,
on the 21st of August,1860, to Miss Anna Lage, who was born in Germany
on the 9th of March, 1839, a daughter of Henry and Anna Lage, old German
settlers of Scott county. In 1847, when a little maiden of eight years,
she came with her parents to the United States, the family landing at New
Orleans, whence they came up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. After
remaining in that city for about six weeks they continued their northward
journey until they arrived in Scott county, Iowa, where the father purchased
a tract of wild praire land which, by means of untiring industry, indefatigable
energy and unceasing perseverance, he converted into a highly cultivated
farm which later became the home of our subject.

After his marriage Mr. Kroeger took up his abode upon the farm in Davenport
township upon which his father-in-law originally located, continuing to
devote his time and energies to its development for more than thirty years.
In the meantime he made a thorough study of agriculture, practiced rotation
of crops and carried on his farming interests in a capable and businesslike
way that brought most desirable results. Annually his fields yielded rich
harvests as a reward for the care and labor bestowed upon them, and his
agircultural interests proved a source of gratifying revenue. He purchased
a farm in Lyon county, Iowa, which he later sold at a very advantageous
price. That his efforts were crowned with a very substantial success is
indicated by the fact that in 1893 he was able to retire from further active
work. He removed to Davenport, purchasing a home at 1162 Fourteenth street,
where he has since resided, a goodly competence making it possible for
him to enjoy the comforts of life without further recourse to labor.

With the passing of the years the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kroeger was blessed
with six children, as follows: Henry, a progressive farmer operating the
old homestead, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume; Lewis,
of Lyon county, Iowa; Emma, the wife of Henry Goettsch, of Lyon county;
Gustav, also residing in Lyon county; Minnie, the deceased wife of Henry
Bolt, of Davenport; and one who died in infancy. Politically Mr. Kroeger
is independent and while still active in the world's work held several
township offices. He holds membership in the German Pioneers Association
and also in the Schleswig-Holstein Society, and he is widely known throughout
Davenport township, where his circle of friends is almost coextensive with
the circle of his acquaintance. He has never had occasion to regret his
determination to seek his fortune in this country, for here he found the
opportunities which he sought and by earnest, persistent and unfaltering
effort carried himself forward to the goal of success. He has now passed
the eighty-first milestone on life's journey and can look back upon a past
that has been characterized by honest labor and honorable purposes.


Link: Scott County Page
URL: <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iascott/scott.htm>;

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