Henry County >> 1906 Index

Biographical Review of Henry County, Iowa
Chicago: Hobart Publishing Company, 1906.

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Biographies submitted by Polly Eckles.

ARTHUR CHARLES JAEGER, conducting an upholstering and undertaking establishment on North Main street , in Mount Pleasant , was born in Burlington , Iowa , July, 7, 1870 , while his parents, Melcher and Anna (Dauner) Jaeger, were both natives of Germany , born there in 1834 and 1835 respectively. They were married in Germany , December 4, 1857 , and soon came to America on an old-time sailing vessel which was about thirty days in making the voyage, during which they encountered two severe storms, but at length anchor was dropped in the harbor of New York . Mr. and Mrs. Jaeger did not tarry in the east but made their way at once to Burlington , Iowa . There the father learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until about 1875, and has since been employed in the West Burlington Railroad shops. Unto him and his wife have been born twelve children, but only two are now living: Arthur Charles; and L. M. Jaeger. The latter married Miss Lizzie Hahn, of Mount Rose , Iowa , and they reside in Burlington , where he is engaged in business as a cigarmaker. By a previous marriage he had two children, Hazel and Arnold. Melcher Jaeger votes independently, and in religious faith both he and his wife are connected with the German Lutheran church, at Burlington .

Arthur Charles Jaeger was educated in the public schools of his native city and entered business life when fifteen years of age as an employe of W. G. Hoer, a cigar box manufacturer on Jefferson street , Burlington , with whom he remained for two years. He then spent six months in the Embalming Burial Case factory, after which he learned the upholstering business, remaining in the employ of the firm of Chittenden & Eastman for four years. He next spent one year as an employe in the Burlington mattress factory, after which he was again connected with Chittenden & Eastman until 1894. In March, 1895, he came to Mount Pleasant and worked for J. M. Brunner & Brother, conducting business under the name of the Mount Pleasant Furniture Company. He occupied that position until September, 1903, and in November, of that year, he opened an undertaking and upholstering establishment of his own. He had learned the undertaking business with Mr. Brunner, of Mount Pleasant , and was licensed by the state board of health at Des Moines , having fine undertaking rooms at No. 217 North Main street , where he also conducts an upholstering business, and is accorded a liberal patronage.

In September, 1900, Mr. Jaeger was married to Miss Allie B. Johnson, of Mount Pleasant , Iowa . Her father died about a quarter of a century ago, while her mother, Mrs. Matilda (Ketcham) Johnson, is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Jaeger. In the Johnson family there were two children: Frank, who is married and lives in Ottumwa , Iowa , where he is employed by the Pennsylvania Oil Company; and Allie B., who was born on a farm south of Mount Pleasant and is now the wife of our subject. Mrs. Jaeger was educated in the public schools of Mount Pleasant , and by her marriage has become the mother of two sons: Marion Arthur, born September 30, 1901 ; and Orville Melcher, November 20, 1902 .

In his political views Mr. Jaeger is a stalwart republican, but without aspiration for office. He is a member of Mount Pleasant Lodge, No. 8, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is recognized as an enterprising, active and energetic business man, reliable in his trade transactions, and moreover, he deserves all the praise implied in the term, a self-made man, for since the age of fifteen years he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources, working for advantages which other boys had provided for them, and winning advancement through capability, integrity and unfaltering diligence.