The Unterkircher Family of Des Moines County, Iowa

P. F. UNTERKIRCHER.

No history given in this volume illustrates more clearly the power of honesty, perseverance, and enterprise as resultant factors in the business world than does the life record of P. F. Unterkircher, deceased, who, coming to this country empty-handed, steadily worked his way upward until at his death he left behind him not only a handsome competence but also an unsullied record. He therefore commanded the unqualified respect of his fellow-citizens, while his many acts of benevolence and unostentatious generosity gained their love and admiration.

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DES MOIXnS COUXTV. IOWA.

the careful conduct of his business interests, he was enabled to accumulate considerable property and he left a large estate, the visible evidence of his life of intense and well-directed activity. His word was as good as his bond, his honesty in all business matters being proverbial. Throughout his entire life he progressed, because he was ever alert for opportunity for advancement, and utilized all such to the best possible ends.

In 1888 Mr. Unterkircher was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died that year in Ihirlinston. They were the parents of twelve children. He survived his wife for about five years. He was a member of Harmonia Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Stephenson Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen; and the Iowa Grove Order of Druids. He was a man of most kindly spirit, generous in giving to the poor and needy, and yet entirely free from ostentation in his many benevolent acts. In fact he desired that none should know of his gifts. He was always interested in the welfare of the city, was the champion of many measures for the public good, and his support of progressive public measures caused him to be honored while he lived and occasioned deep and widespread regret at his death. At one time he served as alderman of Burlington. Seven years prior to his death he made a trip to Germany, both for the purpose of seeing his native land and also in the hope that his health might be improved. He visited several water cures, but received no permanent benefit; and he never recovered his former strength, although his fatal illness covered only a few weeks. No citizen that the Fatherland furnished to America was ever more respected in Burlington or was more justly entitled to public regard, not only because of the success he achieved, but also by reason of the straightforward methods he employed, and his broad humanitarian spirit, manifest in kindly deeds.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

F. L. UNTERKIRCHER.

F. L. Unterkircher, of the firm of F. L. & G. L. Unterkircher, liverymen and funeral directors, and also identified with other business interests which are bringing to him success, was born in Tecumseh, Mich., in 1856. His father, P. F. Unterkircher, was at one time a very prominent business man of Burlington, and the predecessor of the present firm in the livery and undertaking business. He died in this city, Aug. 31, 1893. The subject of this review is the eldest in a family of four sons and four daughters, the others being: Emma, the wife of Theodore Blaul, of the John Blaul Sons Wholesale Grocery Company, of Burlington; George L., a partner of F. L. LTnterkircher, and the manager of the livery business; Ida, the wife of Clare Jordan, of Burlington; Nellie; Horace; and Blanche L.

F. L. Unterkircher pursued his education in. the schools of Burlington, to which city he was brought by his parents in early boyhood, and after putting aside his textbooks he entered his father's employ. After the father's death he and his brother, George L., established their present extensive business as liverymen and funeral directors, F. L. Unterkircher having charge of the undertaking department. No fine nor more complete establishment of the

3o8 kind can be foiiiul in the State. Their building of three stories and basement contains a fine, chapel with accomodations for two hundred people. The building is of Milwaukee brick, elegant in every particular, and they carry a very fine line of undertaking goods. The livery is also in this building, which has a frontage on Third and on X'ally Streets. It was erected at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars, and with the stock of undertakers' supplies, hearse, carriages, horses, and harness, the business represents an investment of sixty-five thousand dollars, without doubt the largest amount in a joint business of this kind in the State. Mr. Unterkircher is a graduate and registered embahner. his certificate being the tenth issued in Iowa under the present law requiring examinations before the State board of health. It is almost needless to say that the business of F. L. & G. L. Unterkircher is one of the most extensive of its kind in Iowa.

F. L. Unterkircher is a director of the Business Commercial Exchange and of the Citizens' Bridge Company. He is also president of the General Agency Company, an adjunct of the German-American Equation Premium Life Association, of which he is second vice-president and a director and stockholder. His business sagacity and enterprise have been manifest in the able handling of involved and important business conditions, and his methods, capable of bearing the closest investigation, have made him successful and prosperous.

Mr. Unterkircher is very prominent in fraternal circles, holding membership in Malta Lodge, Xo. 318, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Excelsior Lodge, No. 268, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Burlington Lodge, No. 84, Benevolent

Protective Order of Elks;.Aerie No. 750, Fraternal Order of Eagles: Seminole Tribe, No. 46, Improved Order of Red Men; the Modern Woodmen of America: the Woodmen of the World: and the Knights of the Maccabees. He has passed through all the chairs of the Odd Fellows and Workmen lodges, and has represented the latter in the grand lodge. In his political views he is a stalwart Democrat, a leader in the local ranks of the party, and has served as a delegate to the State conventions, where his opinions have carried weight in the councils of the party. He served as county coroner for sixteen consecutive years, being elected on the Democratic ticket, without soliciting a vote, and his term expired in 1900.

On the 21st of October, 1879, Mr. Unterkircher was married, in Burlington, to Miss Amelia Meyer, who was born in Franklin, Iowa, a daughter of Dr. P. D. Meyer, an army physician, who died in the Civil War. His wife died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L'nterkircher, in 1889, and was buried in Aspen Grove cemetery, while the father was buried in the National Soldiers' cemetery, at Lexington, Ky. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Unterkircher are Charles G. Meyer, of Tiffin, Ohio; Philip Meyer, a resident of Stockton, Cal.; and Mrs. Lucinda KaufTman, of St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Unterkircher have two children, Alma and Delia. The former is a graduate of Mount St. Joseph's College, at Dubuque. She does most artistic pen and crayon work, and is also proficient on the piano. Mr. L'nterkircher is prominent in business, social, and political circles, an enterprising business man, alert and progressive, whose efforts have touched the general interests of society and promoted the public good.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE L. UNTERKIRCHER.

Among those men who were prominent in business affairs in the city of Burlington was George L. LInterkircher, for a number of years engaged in the livery and undertaking business. He also had other interests and was a factor for progress in the commercial life of the city. He was born in Burlington, May 10, 1863, and died July 7, 191 1, in the best years of his life. Although he was called to the Great Beyond much too early to achieve the goal of his ambition, he attained a position which many a man of older years may never reach.

Mr. Unterkircher was a son of P. F. and Philipina (Johns) Unterkircher, the former of whom was born in Mezigen, Germany, November 30, 1826, and died in Burlington, August 31, 1893, having reached the age of sixty-seven years. He came to America in 1853 and first located in Clinton, Michigan, where he followed his trade of weaver. Soon afterward, however, he engaged in tanning, and in time became the owner of the tannery in which he had begun his career as a humble employe. In 1863 Mr. Unterkircher made his way to Iowa, locating near Augusta in Des Moines county, where he resided four years, and in 1867 came to Burlington. In that city he conducted a brewery for one year. He then established a steam laundry, which he operated in partnership with George A. Duncan, his business being the first enterprise of its kind in the city. Subsequently he became interested in the livery business, purchasing the Stewart stables. The business prospered, and he later added an undertaking establishment. He remained the owner of these business properties until his death, although his sons became associated with him in business. The firm operated under the style of P. F. Unterkircher & Sons. Mr. Unterkircher accumulated considerable property and left an estate which was the result of his industry, energy and frugality. In 1852, at Clinton, Michigan, he married Miss Philipina Johns, who died in 1888. He became recognized as one of the substantial citizens of Burlington and aided all public measures of a worthy nature.

George L. Unterkircher was reared in Burlington, and in this city attended the public schools, subsequently taking up a course of study in Bryant & Stratton Business College. While yet a boy he made himself useful in his father's livery and undertaking establishments. He later became a member of the firm, which then changed its style to P. F. Unterkircher & Sons, under which it continued until the death of Mr. Unterkircher, Sr., in 1893. Subsequently our subject and his brother, F. L. Unterkircher, leased from the estate the Washington street business for a period of five years, while the two other brothers, C. L. and H. O. Unterkircher, took over the Columbia barn on North Main street. George L. Unterkircher and his brother conducted business under the firm name of F. L. & G. L. Unterkircher, and soon erected a fine new building at Third and Valley streets, which they occupied in 1896. This building was put up at an e.expense of sixty-five thousand dollars. Forty thousand dollars was invested in stock, of which thirty-five thousand dollars was particularly devoted to acquiring the highest class of equipment and animals for their livery, which was modern in every respect. Their undertaking establishment also was one of the largest and most up to date in the state. In 1902 they added a large and artistically decorated chapel with a seating capacity of two hundred. F. L. Unterkircher had charge of the undertaking establishment, while our subject gave most of his attention to the livery business. He was very successful along this line, being an expert judge of animals, and as a side line he engaged largely in the purchase and sale of horses, doing a considerable business of this kind. Mr. Unterkircher was one of the most genial and pleasant-mannered business men of Burlington, in which city he had innumerable friends. He held considerable real estate and also was a director of the German-American Equation Premium Life Association and of the German-American Agency Company.

On September 12, 1882, Mr. Unterkircher married Miss Jennie Keegan, a native of Burlington, and they had one daughter, Grace, who married William Mathes. Mrs. Unterkircher, who died July 29, 1913. was widely and favorably known in Burlington, being particularly interested in various organizations which make for the betterment of humanity and which interest themselves in the care of the needy and afflicted.

Mr. Unterkircher took a foremost rank among the public-spirited citizens of Burlington, for the advancement and progress of which city he considered no effort of his too great. He was an active democrat and frequently served as a delegate to state conventions and in other important capacities. In 1899 public recognition came to him when he was elected to the position of coroner of Des Moines county, an office which he held for four years. He discharged his difficult duties faithfully and with circumspection and made an excellent official record. His social and fraternal connections were many, and he was popular in all of the organizations to which he belonged. Among others, he was a member of Harold Lodge, I. O. O F.; the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; the Modern Woodmen of America; the Woodmen of the World; the Knights of the Maccabees; the Fraternal Order of Eagles; the Burlington Turner Society; the Schwaebischer Verein; the Ancient Order of United Workmen; the Orchard City Club; the Commercial Men's Exchange, and the Business Men's Club. In the Commercial and Business Men's clubs Mr. Unterkircher found a broad scope for his activities in promoting the advancement of the city. He was an extremely popular man and had many friends in all circles of Burlington. He was hailed as a fine fellow on all hands and in his genial way brought the sunshine of life to many of his fellow-men. When the news of his death on July 7, 191 1, traversed the city there was much sorrow and morning. His many friends could hardly believe that one had gone out of their lives who had been much to them. His memory is loyally and reverently preserved as that of a man who combined with the highest qualities of character business ability of a high order, and who was ever ready to extend a helping hand to all those who were unfortunate. His help was not only of a material kind, but his mere presence inspired encouragement, and his good cheer seemed to drive away life's shadows.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

G. L. UNTERKIRCHER.

As the successor of his father, Mr. Unterkircher is the representative of one of the oldest and most successful business enterprises of Burlington, Iowa. At the present time he is a member of the livery and undertaking firm of F. L. & G. L. Unterkircher, located at the corner of Third and Valley Streets. He was born in this city May 10, 1863, a son of P. F. Unterkircher, a full sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in the present volume, and his preliminary education was in the public schools. This was followed by a thorough course of training in the Bryant & Stratton Business College of Burlington, and while still a boy he entered the work of his father's livery and undertaking establishment on Washington Street, being afterward taken into membership in the firm of P. F. Unterkircher & Sons, which was continued until the death of the senior member on Aug. 31, 1893. Thus he was reared in the business with which he has all his life been identified, and acquired that familiarity with its details which has been such an important factor in his success.

After the father's death Mr. Unterkircher and his brother, F. L. Unterkircher, leased the Washington Street business for a period of five years, the two other brothers, C. L. and H. O. Unterkircher. taking the Columbia barn on North Main Street. During the currency of this lease the firm of F. L. & G. L. Unterkircher erected the present building at Third and Valley Streets, taking possession in 1896. The building was constructed at a cost of $65,000, and $40,000 was invested in stock, $35,000 of this amount being devoted to the purchase of livery stock and equipment, including fifteen closed carriages or opera coaches, two pall-bearers' wagons, twenty-five single rigs, two ambulances, four hearse, three undertaking wagons, one large brake or picnic wagon, five two-seat, extension-top carriages, two buckboards, two golf wagons, and sixty head of horses of exceptionally high grade. In connection with the undertaking service a large and artistically decorated chapel, with a seating capacity of two hundred, was built in 1902, an addition which has elicited much commendation from the public. In both livery and undertaking equipment this establishment takes rank with the best to be found anywhere in the Middle West. The building, which is of buff brick, consists of three stories and a basement, and every department is thoroughly complete and modern in all its appointments, all lighting, bell, and other apparatus being of the latest and most approved types. Mr. Unterkircher's brother has charge of the undertaking department, but he himself has the entire management of the immense livery business, and in addition he engaged in the purchase and sale of horses on a large scale.

On Sept. 12, 1882, Mr. Unterkircher was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Keegan, a native of Burlington and of German parentage, and to this union has been born one child, a daughter, Grace, who was graduated from the Burlington high schools, finished her education at Mount St. Joseph's College, Dubuque, and is active in the musical circles of the city, being a member of the Burlington Musical Club. The family occupies a handsome residence at 807 North Third Street, built by Mr. Unterkircher in 1901, and situated on the bluffs overlooking the magnificent prospect of the Mississippi River.

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As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

CHARLES T. UNTERKIRCHER.

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(3n Nov. 17, 1903, Mr. Unterkircher was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Reid, a daughter of Millard Reid, who is prominent as a contractor in this city, and is a brother of Captain Reid, well known as a veteran of the Civil War. Mrs. Lmterkircher's parents reside at 863 Court Street, and she is one of a family of two brothers and four sisters, as follows: Frank and Harry Reid, both of Burlington; Mrs. Gertrude Hill, of Chicago; Mrs. Unterkircher, wife of our subject; Miss Ruth Reid, who is now a student in vocal music in Chicago; and Verna, who is at home with her parents, and is in the North Oak school. Mr. Millard Reid, as a contractor, has been the builder of many of the most handsome residences in the city of Burlington. Mr. and Mrs. Unterkircher occupy a very pleasant home at 931 Garden Street.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.