L. F. L. Unterkircher

As printed in 1905

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 Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.