Henry Schroeder

As printed in 1910

HENRY SCHROEDER.

It is meet that when one is well advanced in years the opportunity should come to put aside the more arduous cares of active business life and rest from further labor. In youth energy and ambition are dominant and in mature years these are guided by that wisdom which comes through experience and appreciation of surrounding conditions. If one's opportunities are wisely used success follows and a competence for the evening of life is secured. Such has been the record of Henry Schroeder, formerly well known as a merchant of Davenport but now living retired.

He was born near Hamburg, in Holstein, Germany, December 22, 1831, and is a son of John H. and Margaret Schroeder. The father served in the war with France, and Detlef Schroeder, a brother of our subject, was in the Holstein-Denmark war of 1850, giving his life in defense of the principles in which he believed during the progress of that struggle. The father was a farmer and brewer in his native country, where both he and his wife spent their entire lives.

Henry Schroeder acquired his education in the schools of Germany and afterward served in the Danish army from 1853 until 1855. He then began learning the brick-mason's trade, but the favorable reports which he heard concerning the business conditions and opportunities in America led him to the determination to establish his home on this side the Atlantic. It was in 1857 that he heard and heeded the call of the western world and boarding a sailing vessel spent thirty-two days on the water ere he landed at New York. He did not remain in the east, however, but car: direct to Davenport with a party of friends, with whom he had crossed the Atlantic and who had friends in this city. In his native country Mr. Schroeder had learned the brick-mason's trade and on reaching Davenport began working at his trade, which he followed for about two years, his first work being on the sewer on Iowa street. He afterward assisted in building the schoolhouse at Bettendorf, then Gilberttown, which is still standing. Subsequently he went to Le Claire, where he aided in the erection of a number of buildings. He was first engaged on a store for Mr. Becker and, remaining in Le Claire, he worked in the store for Mr. Becker, thus gaining his first experience along mercantile lines. He spent three years in that way and gained valuable knowledge of the methods of managing commercial.interests.

While in Le Claire Mr. Schroeder was married November 20, 1860, after which he returned to Davenport with his wife and has since made this city his home. He first entered the employ of Beiderbecke & Moeller in the wholesale and retail grocery business and was with them for five years, when he had opportunity for making a forward step by engaging in business on his own account. Removing to the corner of Third and Fillmore streets he took charge of a grocery store there with Henry Brandt as a partner. In 1868 they purchased the store of Kasper Foster and conducted the business until 1903, when Mr. Schroeder sold his interest in the grocery and retired. After about ten years in the trade he and his partner purchased the property which they had previously rented.

Various enterprises in time claimed the attention of Mr. Schroeder, who for twenty-two years conducted stockyards and was connected with a large number of industrial and commercial concerns. He was also one of the directors of the Iowa National Bank for seventeen years after aiding in the organization and establishment of the bank. He then resigned but is still one of the directors of the Davenport Security Insurance Company, which he aided in organizing in 1889. His connection with business interests of Davenport has been of an important character and of far-reaching benefit to the city inasmuch as his labors have constituted an element in the promotion of commercial and financial activity. He has been quick to see and utilize advantages, recognizing the fact that the present and not the future holds his opportunity. He was also a stockholder in the glucose works and was one of the company to establish the Davenport Canning Factory, which was afterward changed to the manufacture of tin cans. He was one of the organizers of the Davenport Foundry & Machine shop, of which he is still a stockholder; was a stockholder in the Masonic Temple when it was erected; and also a stockholder in the Davenport Works Company, besides being interested in other industries.

As previously stated, it was on the 20th of November, 1860, that Mr. Schroeder wedded Miss Elizabeth Schwen, of Le Claire, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1834 and came to this country with a lady friend in 1856. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children: Henry A., of Seattle, Washington, who married Grace Rose and has one son, Frederick; Jennie, the wife of John Fahrner, of Davenport, and has one son, Waldo; Hugo, who is also living in this city; Pauline, deceased; Laura, who became the wife of Henry Kohrs, Jr., and died leaving a son, Robert; Lewis, deceased; John L., whose home is in British Columbia; and Amelia, the wife of William Hetzel, of Davenport, by whom she has one son, Wilbur. The death of Mrs. Schroeder occurred October 8, 1909, when she had reached the age of seventy-five years, eight months and two days.

Mr. Schroeder is a member of the Turners and of the German Shooting Society. He has always been a man of influence among Davenport's residents of his own nationality, nor has his leadership been confined alone to people of the Teutonic race. He has long been regarded as a man of sound judgment and keen discrimination and his opinions have carried weight 'in business circles and in matters relating to the public life of the city. There is no mor loyal resident of Davenport than this adopted son, a man never so busy with private affairs as to neglect the duties of citizenship nor so concerned with public interests that his private business has suffered. In fact, he has been at all times a man of well balanced capacities and powers and his intelligently directed effort has given him place among the leading and influential citizens of Scott county.

As printed in History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa : Illustrated (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.