The Des Moines County histories sketch four Bosch households from Germany, and they tie only two of them together, through the Boeck sisters. George Bosch, a Wurtemberg cabinet-maker who served in the cavalry, reached New York in 1848 and was brewing in Burlington with a cousin by 1851; a fire in 1871, followed five days later by the great Chicago fire, cost the business about $30,000, and it was sold to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in 1881. John George Bosch, born in 1831, came in 1854 to work for a brewer brother in Burlington, then ran a dairy and a boarding house before settling on a forty-acre farm and vineyard in Flint River Township, and his sons John G. and August A. opened the Bosch Brothers meat market in West Burlington in 1885. His wife, Susan Boeck, and Katherine Boeck, mother of the Burlington plumber Charles G. Bosch, were both sisters of the meat-packer George Boeck. George M. Bosch, a trained brewer from Gussenstadt, arrived in 1876 and kept a saloon on Division Street from 1889. Every fact below is cited to a public-domain Des Moines County history.
Earliest in the record
George Boschborn 1822Most recent in our records
John G. Boschborn 1863Each number matches a section below. Tap a name to jump to that person.
Brewer and city alderman, Burlington
GEORGE BOSCH, residing at No. 612 South Main street, Burlington, Iowa, was born in 1 the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 5, 1822, and is a son of George and Catherine (Joos) Bosch, who had two other children: John G., a brewer, of Burlington, Iowa, and Margaret, who yet resides in her native land. The two brothers were the only members of the family who came to America, the parents both dying at their old home, where they were members of the Lutheran Church. According to the custom of the church, the children were all baptized in infancy, at the age of twelve were ought the faith and belief of the church, and at fourteen were taken into full fellowship, being allowed to partake of the Lord's Supper after the confirmation. As required by the laws of Germany, our subject went to school from the age of seven to fourteen, and after completing this course was apprenticed to the cabinet-maker's trade, serving a term of two years. Being a natural mechanic, he soon learned the trade, and his work being transmitted to the Board of Examiners and standing the test, he was allowed to go as a journeyman. Proceeding to Stuttgart, Mr. Bosch had charge of some very fine work, and there mastered drawing and mathematics. In 1843 he was drafted into the army, serving five and a half years, three of which were in active duty in the cavalry.
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On the 22d of February, 1852, George Bosch and Caroline Merlz were united in marriage. She was born in Germany, and came to America with her parents and four brothers, the former h.having since departed this life. Mr. and Mrs. Bosch have been the parents of nine children, four of whom died in infancy: Ottilie, residing at home; Amelia is the wife of Adolf Naumann, head bookkeeper in the Bank of Minnesota, and a resident of St. Paul; Arthur is a book-keejier in a wholesale house in St. Louis; Leander, first assistant cashier in the Bank of Minnesota, at St. Paul, and Gertrude, residing at home, is an artist of considerable ability. Mr. and Mrs. Bosch have taken special pride in the education of their children, thereby fitting them for the responsible positions they now hold. The family are nearly all fine musicians, Leander being able to play on six different instruments. Mr. Bosch has filled various city olhces. and in 1858 w.as elected Alderman from the Fourth Ward.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Dairyman, boarding-house keeper and farmer
JOHN GEORGE BOSCH.
John George Bosch, a native of Germany who has made his home for many and welfare of this party. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias for two years, and served this lodge as secretary one year. He is a member of the German years in Flint River township, where scores Lutheran Zion church. He is a man of his countrymen have made a settlement, is a son of Melcher and Barbara (Hecker) Bosch. His birth occurred Sept. 15, 1831. His parents educated him in the common schools of his birthplace. Being free many experiences, and one well versed in all the issues of the day. His great energy, ambition, and activity coupled with strong principles of right-doing towards all men, have won for him success from school work he entered a brewery, and the respect and friendship of the entire where he learned the business, at which he township.
was employed till 1854, when he came to
After a long and tedious voyage of fifty-two days on the water, he landed in the great City of New York.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Butcher, Bosch Brothers meat market, West Burlington
JOHN G. BOSCH, JR.
brother, who was a brewer, and for whom he worked some three years. His next step was a venture in the dairy business, which he carried on most successfully for twelve years. Going out of this, he took a much-needed rest of a whole year. In
West- Burlington, is John G. Bosch, Jr., who, in company with his brother, conducts a model and up-to-date meat-market at 105 Broadway, using the firm style of Bosch Brothers. Mr. Bosch was born in Burlington township, Des Moines county.
1871 he opened up a boarding-house at fet. 21, 1863, and received his education 852 Washington Street,' and conducted this place till 1875. when he bought his present farm of forty acres in Flint River township. Here he has since lived, carrying on farming, general gardening, fruit raising, and caring for a large vineyard.
April 19, 1861, he married Miss Susan M. Boeck, by whom he has three children,.August, John, and Charles, all living and all at home. Mrs. Bosch passed away Aug. 28, 1900, aged sixty-two years, leaving her husband very lonely. She was a good woman and kind neighbor.
Mr. Bosch has always been a stanch Democrat, and though he has never aspired to any office, yet he has constantly done all in his power to promote the good in the public schools of that township and in the German school at North Hill, from which last he was graduated in the class of 1877. After finishing his education he was associated with his father in the work of the farm until attaining his twenty-first year, at which time he began his individual career in life by acquiring the trade of a butcher under the direction of his material uncle, George Boeck, as did also his brother.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Plumber and electrician, Burlington
CHARLES G. BOSCH.
Charles G. Bosch, conducting a profitable and growing plumbing and electric business in Burlington, belongs to that class of men who do not seek to figure prominently in public affairs nor occupy a spectacular position in public regard, but who by reason of their substantial qualities constitute a most valuable element in citizenship. Burlington claims him as a native son. He was born May 24, 1854, his parents, who were natives of Germany, having come to this country about 1 85 1 or 1852, at which time the father opened a grocery store on West Washington street. In their family were seven children but only two survive, Charles Bosch and Mrs. Joseph Spies, both of Burlington. The father passed away almost four decades ago, after which his widow became the wife of John Dabb, who was a baker, conducting business on Washington street. The surviving daughter of that marriage is Mrs. Herman Wolfert, of West Burlington. The mother has passed away, however, and she and her two husbands now rest in Aspen Grove cemetery.
Charles G. Bosch pursued his early education in the German subscription schools and also attended the public schools of Burlington. He was eighteen years of age when he secured a position in the drug store of C. P. Squires, and subsequently he obtained employment in the plumbing establishment of Stewart & Hayden. At a later period he worked at the plumber's trade in Chicago and Denver, and with the passing years his skill, ability and resourcefulness steadily increased. In 1880 he built the gas plant in Creston, Iowa, which he operated for two years, and on the ist of November, 1883, he established a plumbing business on Main street in Burlington, so that he has now been connected with the business for more than three decades. The beginning was small but as time passed on he had to increase his facilities to meet his growing trade and today he is conducting a very gratifying and successful plumbing and electric business.
On the loth of October, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bosch and Miss Blanche Louisa Whitehead, a daughter of Josiah Whitehead, of Creston, Iowa. She died in 1910 and was buried in Burlington. In 1912 Mr. Bosch married Miss Clara Lau, of Burlington, a daughter of Nicholas and Caroline Lau. Her father conducts a meat market in this city. Mr. Bosch owns residence property in the city and also has other valuable real estate in Burlington. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World and he also belongs to the Silver Lake Club. His political indorsement is usually given to the democratic party although he does not hesitate to vote independently if his judgment sanction that course. He has been secretary of the Business Men's Club, in which he still holds membership, and he is likewise a member of the Commercial Club. He cooperates in every movement for the benefit and welfare of the city and is a consistent and faithful member of the German Lutheran church, which has found in him a generous supporter as have various charitable organizations. His life has been well spent, and the salient traits of his character are such as win high regard. His business ability has gained for him the trust of contemporaries and colleagues, and his devotion to the public good has placed him high on the roll of Burlington's progressive citizens.
As printed in the source3. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
CHARLES G. BOSCH.
Charles G. Bosch, one of the prominent and leading plumbers of Burlington, is a son of Leonard and Katherine ( Boeck) Bosch, and was born in Burlington, Iowa, May 24, 1854. His parents were natives of Germany, and came to Burlington in 1851 or 1852, and opened a grocery store on West Washington Street. They had seven children, of whom but two remain. Charles, of this review, and his sister, Mrs. Joseph Spies, -whose husband is a railroad man. The father died some thirty years ago, and his widow later married John Dabb. who was a baker, and had a shop on Washington Street, where their grocery formerly was. Mrs. Herman Wolfert. of West Burlington, is a step-sister of his. Mrs. Dabb passed away a short time ago, and she and her husbands are buried in Aspen Grove cemetery. Mr. Bosch was educated in the German subscription schools and public schools of Burlington, and at the age of eighteen went to work in the drug store of C. P. Squires. In 1871 he secured employment with the firm of Stewart & Hayden as a plumber. One of his first duties was to move the shop, which he accomplished in half a day, using a wheelbarrow. After this he worked for a while in Chicago and Denver. In 1880 he built the gas plant in Creston, Iowa, and ran it for two years. Nov. 1, 1883, he opened his present store on Main Street, where he has been for twenty years. He first began in a very quiet and modest way, but in a short time his ability as a mechanic became known, and from that time to the present his business has by close application and fair dealing increased wonderfully.
Oct. ID, 1882. Mr. Bosch married Miss Blanche Louisa Whitehead, daughter of Josiah Whitehead, of Crcston, Iowa. They reside at 717 North Third Street. Mr. Bosch also owns several lots in the city and the place at 1900 Orchard Street. He has been a Democrat all of his life, but has voted somewhat independently for the last few years. He is actively connected with the Modern Woodmen of the World; was secretary of the Business Men's Club for a while, and is still a member of the same, and also a member of the Commerical Club. He is a member and was a director in the Cottage Lake Club, of which he is a great worker. Mr. Bosch was raised in the German Lutheran church, and has given much to charities and churches in a quiet way. He is enterprising and public-spirited, wishing at all times to see the city of his birth grow and prosper. As a merchant, citizen, and private individual he has made a record which is worthy of commendation and approval.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.
Brewer and retail liquor dealer
GEORGE M. BOSCH.
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Mr. Bosch then came to Burlington, arriving in this city on the tliirtoentli of October, 1876. Here he was employed in the Western Brewery for four months, after which he spent three years as brewer in the other brewing establishments of this city. He was afterward for three years and two months in the employ of Casper Heil, and subsequently worked for two years in the brewery owned by Mr. Metzger. This he ])purchased in 1888, in connection with.Andrew Cianz, their partnership continuing for two years, wlu-n they dissolved their business connection, and withdrew from the trade. Mr. Bosch then went to Nebraska, where he worked in a brewery for four months, and in September, 1889, he returned to Burlington, where he embarked in the sahnMi business. He is now located at 1606 Division Street.
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Mr. Bosch was married to Miss Anna Messmer, a daughter of Anton and Mary (Klutz) Messmer. She was born in Grosselfingen, Germany, April 13, 1860, and with her sister Lena came to America when seventeen years of age. This sister died June 26, 1889. She also had four brothers who came to America, but one returned to the Fatherland. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bosch have been born two children, but the daughter, Mary, died in infancy. The elder, George Carl, born Jan. 19, 1882, is now serving with the crew of the " Dolphin " as a member of the American navy. ]Mr. Bosch has prospered in his business career here, and has therefore had no occasion to regret his determination to make his home in America.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Partner in the Lower Town Brewery
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