In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1914) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1842, Pleasant Ridge township
From Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905), Story of Lee County, Iowa; (1914)
GEORGE RUMP.
One of the native sons of Lee county, who is deserving of a place in this volume on account of his record as a distinguished citizen and successful business man, is George Rump, of Fort Madison. He was born in Pleasant Ridge township, this county, on
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John Rump came to America about the year 1835, and entered a claim of government land in Pleasant Ridge. Later, when opportunity offered, he sold this claim, and purchased another tract of land in the same township. It was here that the mother of our subject died on March 23, 1847. ''''"' was buried in \Vest Point cemetery. In the family were six children, of whom George Rump was the third, the others being Elizabeth, who died at ten years of age, having been born September 2, 1849; John, who lives at West Point; Mary, wife of Wil!iam Hamelman, of Kansas City. Kansas: Katherine. who was born March 28. 1847, ''"fl <l''l ill infancy; and Anna, w-ho also died in infancy. Mr. Rump's father. John G.. was remarried July i. 1847. to Man- Lutmer, since deceased. In politics John G. Rump was a lifelong Democrat, and in his religious connection a member of the Christian church. His death occurred December 6. 1871.
George Rump acquired his schooling during the territorial period of the history of Iowa, principally in a rural public school. Init attended for the space of one year the village school of West Point. He has, however. made up for the meagreness of his early educational advantages by a life of intelligent observation combined with reading and a study- of ])public questions..'\t the age of eighteen years he began the independent work of his life by leaving the home of his youth and securing a jxisition in the City of St. Louis, where he acted as clerk in a grocery store for a twelve month. Returning to West Point, he was employed at manual labor for a few months, and as a result of these various ocaipations, together with thrift and economy, he was able to accumulate and save alxiut one hundred dollars. With this capital he came to Fort Madison, and established himself, November i, 1861, at the age of nineteen years, in the dry goods and grocery business at what is now 1436 I'fourth street, After successfully operating this enterprise for two years, he formed a partnership with his father-in-law, H. E. Borchers, they combined their stocks of goods and continued the business under the firm style of H. E. Borchers & Company. ]Mr. Borchers owned the principal interest at the time of his death, which occurred al:out the 29th of April, 1857. The following Aear, pending the settlement of the estate. ]\Tr. Rump acted as manager at a salary of fifty dollars per month. He then bought the business, continuing to conduct it at the Front street location until August, 1871, when he removed to 715-17 Second street, and there he remained imtil 1900, when he disposed of his holdings by sale. 'hen he sold the stock, which then consisted exclusively of dry goods, it was valued at $4,500. He has since been living a retired life, occupying his tiic with the supervision of his various property interests. He is to some extent interested in real estate, being owner of 240 acres > in Washington and Madison townships, all of which he rents.
He also owns residence property on Fifth street. Fort Madison, and a commodious business structure, two and one-half stories in height, on Second street. At 826 Second street he built in 1899, furnishing the plans himself, a magnificent home costing in the neighljorhood of $7,000.
As a taken of the high esteem in which he is held by his many friends Mr. Rump was elected in the year 1870 to the office of city treasurer of Fort Madison, and was fiye times re-elected. He has also held the office of director of the public schools, as well as many similar positions of trust and honor. In politics Mr. Rump has always been a member of the Democratic party, lielieving its principles to be for the greatest good of state and nation. He holds his church membership in St. Joseph's church.
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George Rump has borne no inconsiderable part in the upbuilding of Fort Madison. Tw(,i large two-story brick business blocks were erected by him in 1871 at 715- 717 Second street, and. in 1888 another was added, being No. 719. In the execution of these enterprises he has gained for himself worldly goods and reputation, and has demonstrated anew the truth that most benefits himself who benefits others as well.
As printed in Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
GEORGE RUMP, Sr.
George Rump, Sr., deceased, was for many years one of the leading business men of Fort Madison and one of its highly esteemed citizens. A native of Lee county, he was born in Pleasant Ridge township, April 19, 1842, and was a representative of a very old and honored family of this locality, his parents being John George and Catharine (Peicks) Rump, both natives of Germany. Thev were married, however, in Lee county in 1838 and continued to make th'eir home here until called from this life. By occupation the father was a farmer. His children were: Elizabeth, who died in childhood; John, a resident of West Point, Lee county; George, of this review; Mrs. Mary Hamelman, who died in Kansas City in 1910; Katharine, also deceased; and Anna.
The first seventeen years of his life George Rump spent upon his father's farm in this county and ace]tired his education in the common schools of the neighborhood and the parochial school at West Point, Iowa. He then went to St. Louis, where he was employed as clerk in a grocery store for about two years, and then established a store in Fort Madison in partnership with his fatherin-law, George Borches, under the firm name of Borches & Rump. They began business here in a small way, carrying only a limited stock of groceries and provisions, but as time passed they added dry goods and were soon at the head of one of the leading business concerns of the city. Their store was located on Front street until after the death of Mr. Borches, when Mr. Rump removed to Second street, there conducting a dry-goods store under his own name for twenty-seven years. Carrving a large and well selected stock of goods, he secured an excellent patronage and continued to successfully engage in business until about ten years prior to his death, when he retired. He passed awav here on the 26th of April, 1910. In [900 he erected the fine brick residence which his widow now occupies and besides this property owned three store buildings on Second street, which are now in her possession.
On the 13th of May, 1862, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Rump and Miss Mary Engel Kur, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, January 6, 1844, and came to Lee county, Iowa, about 1850 and has made her home in Fort Madison ever since. Her parents were Henry and Elizabeth Kur, both natives of Germany. Her father died when she was only nine months old, and her mother subsequently married George Borches. To Mr. and Mrs. Rump were born the following children: George Harmon, now a retired merchant of Fort Madison; Henry William, who is engaged in the grocery business on Second street; John Henry, who conducts a saloon in Fort Madison; Louis Henry, who is proprietor of a grocery store in the city and is now making preparations to enter into the wholesale grocery business; William Frank, who was in partnership with his brother, Louis H., until recently; Ella Elizabeth, at home with her mother; Clara Elizabeth, the wife of John Tierney of Fort Madison; and Minnie Loretta, the wife of V. C. Nagel of Fort Madison.
The family hold membership in St. Joseph's Catholic church, to which Mr. Rump also belonged, and his political support was given the democratic party. As a business man he gained the confidence of the public and success came to him as the result of his own individual efforts, for he was ever industrious, enterprising and progressive.
As printed in Story of Lee County, Iowa; (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1905. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.