Dubuque County >> 1894 Index
Jones County
Clayton County

Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties
Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Becky Teubner.

FRANCIS JAEGER is one of the prominent business men of Dubuque , and is connected with many of the principal industries of the city. He is a member of the firm of Brady, Ellwanger & Co., also of the D. C. Glasser Tobacco Company. He possesses an enterprising and progressive spirit, is wide awake and industrious; by careful attention to the details of his business and by well directed efforts he has acquired a comfortable competence and won a position among the leading citizens of the community. Mr. Jaeger was born in Dubuque , July 18, 1842 , but his parents, Adam and Catherine Jaeger, were both natives of Darmstadt , Germany . In that country they were married, and with their two children they crossed the Atlantic , becoming residents of this city in 1840. For a number of years Mr. Jaeger engaged in general merchandising and did a successful business. Both he and his wife spent their remaining days in this city.

Our subject is the third in order of birth in the family of six children, two sons and four daughters. He attended the public schools until seventeen years of age and then entered his father's store, where he served as a salesman for several years. In this way he acquired a good knowledge of business methods. He embarked in the wholesale grocery business under the firm name of Brown & Jaeger. In a few years A. F. Jaeger bought out Mr. Brown's interest, the firm name being changed to F. Jaeger & Co., wholesale liquor dealers. Subsequently Brady and Ellwanger were taken into partnership and the firm became Brady, Ellwanger & Co. On the 1st of March, 1890, he organized the Dubuque Woodenware and Lumber Company, with a capital stock of $50,000, the officers being Francis Jaeger, President; Adam Truegel, Vice-President; and Louis H. Brede, Secretary and Treasurer. This has become one of the solid industries of Dubuque . Mr. Jaeger continued its President until March, 1894. At that time the capital stock was increased and new officers were elected, J. J. Dunn becoming President, while Louis Brede was made Secretary and Treasurer. The company is doing a large business and sells extensively throughout Iowa , Illinois , Wisconsin , Minnesota and Arkansas . Mr. Jaeger aided in the organization, in 1891, of the Turbine Roller Mill Company, and has since been connected with it as a stockholder. He is a stockholder in the Iowa Trust and Savings Bank, and in the Key City Fire Insurance Company, of which he was one of the organizers.

In December, 1868, Mr. Jaeger was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Tschirgi, daughter of Matthew Tschirgi, an old and much respected citizen of Dubuque . By their union were born seven children, six sons and a daughter, namely; Frank M.; Arnold G., who is clerking for the Glasser Tobacco Company; Millie, Louis, Rudolph, Fred and Oscar. In his political views, Mr. Jaeger is a stanch Democrat. He resides at No. 37 Walnut Street , where he owns a commodious brick residence, built in modern style and richly furnished. It is situated on a beautiful lawn and the grounds are decorated with fine trees and flowers. Mr. Jaeger has made the most of his opportunities through life and in business dealing has won success.

REV. CLEMENT JOHANNES, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Dubuque, was born in Germany in 1835, and is a son of Bernard and Catherine Johannes. He spent the first sixteen years of his life in the Fatherland and in 1854 crossed the Atlantic to America , landing in New Orleans after a voyage of nine weeks, He then came up the Mississippi on a steamer to Dubuque , where he remained until the following spring. He afterwards went to Louisville , Ky. , and entered the seminary at that place, there pursuing a three years course of study. He afterwards went to Milwaukee , where he remained for six years, attending St. Francis Seminary of that city, from which institution he was graduated in 1868.

In the same year Father Johannes was ordained by Bishop Henni, of Milwaukee , and was sent to Keokuk , Iowa , to take charge of St. Mary's congregation, of which he was pastor for fourteen months. He was then transferred by Bishop Hennessy to West Point , Lee County, Iowa, where the two succeeding years of his life were passed, and in 1881 he was placed in charge of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Dubuque. The church now has a membership of about five hundred families, and in 1880 the Sacred Heart Church was set off from it with a membership of forty-five families. The house of worship was erected by Father Meis in 1863. It is an excellent structure with a spire two hundred and thirty feet in height. Through the instrumentality of Father Johannes a fine brick building was erected for a parish school. He also has under his supervision St. Mary's Orphan Asylum, which was erected with funds left by Sennes Huegel for that purpose, upon what was formerly known as the Duncan place.

The pastor of the Sacred Heart Church is now Father J. Baurnann. His early education was acquired in the public schools, after which he attended St. Francis Seminary, of Milwaukee , Wis. , where he pursued a classical course and studied philosophy. He was ordained in 1871 by Bishop Henni and served as assistant pastor in Waterloo , Iowa , in Council Bluffs and in Worthington , where for three years he had charge of St. Peter's Church. He was then connected with St. Joseph College for three years, and in 1882 he was appointed pastor of the church of the Sacred Heart, which position he has since filled. The church, which was erected in 1888, is a fine edifice and is 170x63 feet in dimensions. The church also owns other property, including Marquette Hall. It has now a membership of five hundred and is in a flourishing condition.