|
Des Moines County >> 1915 Index History of
Des Moines County, Iowa... L Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. Andrew
L. Lagomarcino, of Burlington, enjoyed the distinction of being called the
father of the Italian colony of that city. He was an able and successful
business man who in the fruit business attained a remarkable success in this
country. Mr. Lagomarcino was born in the village of that name which is situated
near Genoa, Italy, the date of his birth being December 1, 1848. At the age of
eighteen years he crossed the ocean, being induced by the stories which has
reached him of the great opportunities that awaited ambitious youths in the land
of the free. Another reason for his removal from Italy was his distaste for the
conscription system, which he considered an injustice to the people. After
reaching the shores of the western hemisphere Mr. Lagomarcino entered commercial
life. He located in New York, where he remained for several years, and then made
his way to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he established a fruit and grocery
store. In that city he continued until 1875, when he came to Burlington, Iowa,
and in partnership with S. Oppice founded the first exclusive fruit store. It is
said he was the first man to bring bananas to Burlington for sale, shipping this
fruit by express from New York, and at that time this now so popular fruit was
considered a rare curiosity. In 1879 the partnership with Mr. Oppice was
dissolved and Mr. Lagomarcino continued the business alone until 1885, when he
admitted William H. Grupe to a partnership. The latter had been in the employ of
the house since 1878 and as a trusted and faithful employe had earned his
promotion. the firm became Lagomarcino & Co. and so continued until 1903,
when it was incorporated as the Lagomarcino-Grupe Company, of which our subject
became the president and in which capacity he continued until his death. From a
small beginning the establishment grew to be one of the largest fruit houses in
the country. They were importers and wholesale dealers and maintained branch
houses in Cedar Rapids, Creston, Davenport, Dubuque, Ottumwa, Keokuk, Clinton,
Centerville, Estherville and St. Louis, Missouri. The
ambition which led Mr. Lagomarcino to leave his native land guided him to the
goal of success, and his unfailing business foresight, his industry and his
honesty gained him a place among the most substantial citizens of Burlington.
Now only, however, was Mr. Lagomarcino successful but he was popular with all
who came in contact with him. He took an interest in the welfare of the city
that was as great as the care which he exhibited in the conduct of his own
affairs, and he therefore made a most valuable citizen and in a large measure
contributed to the growth and prestige of Burlington. He was the recognized
leader and father of the Italian colony of this city and beloved by all his
countrymen, who would come to him for counsel and guidance and sometimes help. In New
York city Mr. Lagomarcino was united in marriage to Miss Maria Tassina and their
children were Paul, Charles, Joseph, Angelo, Mrs. John Bardenheier, Mrs. Mathew
A. Bley, Albert, Andrew, Columbus, Rosanna and Mamie. The beautiful home in
which Mr. Lagomarcino established his residence is still occupied by his widow.
It is located at No. 2131 South Main street, Burlington. There he loved to
entertain his friends, who found him always a genial host. It was in this home
that he took the greatest pride and at his fireside he found the greatest
happiness. Mr.
Lagomarcino was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and belonged to St.
Paul's Catholic church. By his life record he verified the idea that unflagging
industry will lead to success and furnished an example to Italo-American
citizens which is worthy of being emulated. He combined in him the sunny
characteristics of his southland with American business aggressiveness, although
when applied to for assistance his great and good heart would often yield to his
better judgment. Andrew L. Lagomarcino died October 4, 1907, when nearly
fifty-nine years of age, and his memory lives with the many who knew him. Lagomarcino-Grupe
Company The
Lagomarcino-Grupe Company was founded by Andy Lagomarcino, who arrived in New
York city about 1872 and came to Burlington about 1875. He started business in a
building on Main street, near the railway track, and gradually forged ahead. In
1885 he formed a partnership with W. H. Grupe and in 1887 they removed to larger
quarters on Main street. Still the continued growth of their business
necessitated another removal in order to secure increased facilities and in 1892
their business was established at Valley and Front streets. Burlington,
however, has not confined this growing commercial enterprise, for from time to
time branch houses have been established. The business was started at Cedar
Rapids in 1894, at Creston in 1901 and at Davenport in 1903. In 1904 the
business was incorporated and in 1905 a branch house was established at Dubuque
and another at Clinton. Still the growth continued and Ottumwa was taken into
this chain of business houses owned and controlled by the company. It was in
1907 that Ottumwa became a new field for the firm and in 1911 Keokuk was added
and in 1914 Estherville and Centerville were added, so that at present the Iowa
company owns ten different houses. Theirs is the largest fruit house in the
middle west outside of Chicago. They employ two hundred people and have about
sixty traveling salesmen upon the road. They handle fifteen hundred carloads of
fruit and vegetables annually and they also deal in soda fountains and supplies.
In connection they have established and operate three ice cream factories and
they have a separate house that handles fish and oysters. The home office is at
Burlington and from that point is carried on the general supervision of the
business, which with its ramifying trade interests now largely covers Iowa and
in its wholesale connections extends much further. NICHOLAS LAU is the senior partner in the firm of Lau & Son, proprietors of one of the leading meat markets of Burlington. He is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred at Jtzehoe, Holstein, on the 20th of March, 1847. The period of his boyhood and youth was passed in the fatherland and he came to the United States in 1866. After reaching the shores of the new world he made his way across the country to Chicago, where he remained for about a year and on the expiration of that period he removed to Burlington, where he has since resided. He brought with him but little capital to the new world but he possessed the substantial qualities of ambition, energy and determination and these have brought him to his present place among the substantial business men of the city. The meat market of which he is now the senior proprietor was founded in 1872 by three partners under the firm name of Steinbrecher, Dehn & Lau. This relation was continued for about twenty-six years or until 1898, when Mr. Steinbrecher died and Mr. Lau then bought out the interest of his remaining partner. In 1900 he admitted his son, Louis Lau, to a partnership under the present firm style of Lau & Son, and they now have one of the largest retail markets in the city. It is supplied with all modern fixtures, with splendid refrigerators and other equipments and the most sanitary and healthful conditions prevail. Their trade has steadily grown, the business having now reached gratifying proportions. PHIL LEICHT is conducting a profitable business as a retail dealer in liquors and cigars in Burlington. He was born in this city, May 18, 1861, a son of Philip Leicht, whose birth occurred in Germany in 1831 and who at the age of twenty-four years crossed the Atlantic to the United States. He landed at New Orleans and after a brief period spent in the south made his way up the Mississippi to Burlington, where he arrived in 1857. Here he entered the employ of the Gilbert-Hedge Lumber Company, with which he was connected for about eight years, and then with the capital which he had acquired from his industry and economy he embarked in business on his own account in 1865 as a dealer in liquors. His wife, Mrs. Wilhelmena Leicht, who was born in Germany in 1840, passed away at the age of forty-five years. |