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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 896-898
GEORGE KIELER, a retired merchant of the village of Kieler, in the town of Jamestown, Grant county, was born in Prussia, Germany, Sept. 20, 1845.
Mr. KIELER's parents, John and Catherine (HUBE) KIELER, were both also born in Prussia, he in 1800, and she in 1806. There they obtained their education, and there they were married. Mr. KIELER was a stone mason and contractor in his own country. In August, 1855, they came to this country, making the voyage across the ocean in a sailing vessel, and landing at Quebec. They came to Wisconsin by way of the lakes, and settled in Jamestown, Grant county, where he bought a tract of land and made a home near what is now known as Kieler, named after the family. This was the home of this honest and worthy couple as long as they lived. the husband and father died in 1882, and the mother in 1888. Both were devout members of the Catholic Church, and he was instrumental in the establishment of the first Catholic Church built in Kieler in 1856. A new rock edifice has taken its place, the old building be now used for a school house. Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. KIELER: (1) Gertrude, born in Prussia, married John RICHTER, of Germany, and came to this country three years previous to the arrival of her parents. Mr. and Mrs. RICHTER settled near Kieler, where she died, leaving five children, Joseph, John, Annie (wife of Bernard DUBIE, of Potosi), Mary (Mrs. John KELLY of Potosi), and Dorathea (wife of Charles JACOBS, of Iowa). (2) Dorathea was born in Germany, married Joseph RICHARDS, and settled near Kieler, Grant county, afterward moving to Paris, same county, where he died, leaving four children, John, Henry, Lawrence, and Catherine (wife of Frank LUDWIG). Mrs. RICHARDS lives at Kieler. (3) Barbara, born in Germany, became the wife of Frank UTHE, of Germany. They made their home at Paris for a time, while Mr. UTHE went to California in search of gold. They made a permanent home at Dickeysville, where he died, the father of eight children, Henry, Frank, John, Joseph (deceased), Charles, Matilda (deceased wife of George SCHUMACHER, of East Dubuque), Elizabeth (who married Joseph WITHERHOLD), and Catherine (wife of Martin HOUSER, of Harrison, Grant county). (4) Lawrence, born in Germany, received his schooling in the old country. He married Miss Elizabeth COLLAGAN, of Grant county, and for some years he lived on a farm in the town of Jamestown, and is now a farmer in the State of Iowa. His children are John, Thomas, Frank, Joseph, George, Benno, Rosie (Mrs. Thomas LENSTRA, of Iowa), Louisa, Dora (wife of John FLANAGAN, of Iowa) and Barbara (at home). (5) Frank, born in Germany, acquired his education in the old country. He married Miss Margaret KOTHE, of Jamestown, and their home is now in Paris. Their children are Lawrence, Matilda, Louisa, Dora, Annie, Edward, Charles, and Arthur, all unmarried and at home. (6) George is our subject. (7) Louisa, born in Germany, is the youngest of the family, and received her education in this country. She married Henry SCHUMACHER of East Dubuque, and has a family of children - Henry, Katie (wife of Thomas HICKEN, of Minneapolis), Annie and Angelina.
George KIELER was partly educated in Germany, and had a few years' instruction in the district school in Jamestown. He learned the trade of shoemaker in East Dubuque, and worked at it while he was a young man. Mr. KIELER married Miss Dorathea MONTAGE, a lady of Grant county, and the daughter of Karl and Mary MONTAGE, natives of Prussia, who were long settled in Grant county. They died in Dickeysville. Mrs. KIELER was born in Germany in 1849, and grew to womanhood in Grant county.
George KIELER first settled in the town of Paris, where he worked at his trade some two years in the town of Dickeysville, and then went to Iowa, where he bought a farm, cultivating it some two years, until driven out by the grasshopper plague. Coming back to Jamestown, he followed his trade for some years. In 1882 he purchased real estate, put up a store building, and handled general merchandise in connection with his shoe trade for many years, becoming very prosperous. In 1883 he established the first postoffice, under the administration of Arthur, holding it until 1899. Mr. KIELER has been a notary public for some fourteen years. In 1890 Mr. KIELER bought a farm, which he still owns. In 1899 Mr. KIELER sold his store, and purchased the "Jamestown Hotel," at Louisburg, which he is now conducting, though in October, 1900, he sold the hotel, expecting to move shortly to his farm in Kieler. There are eight children in his family: (1) Katie, born in Dickeysville, in 1872, was educated in the school at Kieler, and is a young lady of more than ordinary ability, being her father's assistant in the store and postoffice for a number of years. (2) George W., born in Jamestown in 1874, is now employed as manager of a creamery at Lebanon, Ohio, having graduated from the Dairymen's Association at Madison Wis. (3) John H., was born in Sac county, Iowa, in 1876; (4) Lawrence, in Jamestown, in 1878; (5) Carl, in Jamestown, in 1880; (6) Louisa, in 1886; (7) Agatha, in 1892; (8) Matilda, in 1894.
Mr. KIELER is a Democrat, and has held the office of the town treasurer and school clerk for a number of terms. He has been one of the leading business men of his community, and has made his mark for honesty and uprightness. All the family belong to the Catholic Church, and our subject has given liberally to its support. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck