History, Scott County, Iowa...part of Genealogy Trails

Louis Brockmann

Louis Brockmann has retired from active farming and now in his declining years is able to look back over a well spent life. His present residence is in Eldridge. His birthplace was Mecklenburg, Germany, his natal day being April 13, 1839, and his parents Frederick and Doris Brockmann. The father was in the Napoleonic wars, his service including the year 1813. He was one of the town officials and a prominent member and officer in the Lutheran church. He did not leave his native land and departed this life in 1858.

Mr. Brockmann secured his education in the schools of Germany and in course of time married. In 1866, some years after the death of his father, he came to America with his wife and mother. They landed upon the eastern coast and then after some consideration came to Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Brockmann looked about him for some means of livelihood and secured work as a farm laborer. As soon as opportunity presented he rented land in Butler township and prospered steadily, in 1880 finding himself in a position to buy a farm of one hundred and twenty acres near Long Grove. It was while living upon this property that his mother died. In 1895 Mr. Brockmann and his family removed to a farm in another part of Scott county. He added to his property by purchasing eighty acres in Princeton township but subsequently sold all his farming land and bought property in Eldridge, to which he removed upon his retirement in 1901.

Previous to his coming to the United States, Mr. Brockmann married Miss Eliza Hagen, November 1, 1865. Three children were born to this union: Hugo, of Princeton township, who married Emma Koch and has three children, Mamie, Hilda and Viola; Carl, a resident of Hickory Grove township, who married Laura Meyer and has three children, Lona, Mildred and Arnold; and Meta, who is now Mrs. Herman Holtz and has a daughter, Wilma.

Mr. Brockmann’s success has come entirely through his own efforts and it has been considerable in view of the fact that he came to America with no capital. Nothing is more intimately associated with the prosperity of a nation than its agricultural interests and as a progressive and representative agriculturist he has added to the sum total of American well being.

“From Vol.2 History of Davenport and Scott County” by Harry E. Downer—S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago
Submitted by Barb Z. 0409
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Julius C. Vogt

Julius C. Vogt is now living retired in the village of Mount Joy, but he was for a number of years actively identified with the agricultural interests of Sheridan township, where he owns one hundred and seventy acres of land. A native of Scott county, he has passed his entire life in this section of Iowa, and as he looks at the success which has attended his labors on the farm, he has no reason to regret that he remained in a locality whose soil is so fertile.

He was born in Sheridan township, May 2, 1862, and is a son of Christian and Cathrina Vogt, both natives of Holstein, German. The father was born May 22, 1822, and the mother March 5, 1823. In the land of his birth Christian Vogt received a fair common-school education and gained some experience as a farmer. When about twenty-five years of age he married and shortly afterward, accompanied by his wife, embarked upon the ocean voyage to America, reaching New York July 4, 1847. He came immediately to Scott county, and as he had a little money he bought three hundred and forty acres of prairie land in Sheridan township, for which he paid one dollar and a quarter an acre. He broke the soil, built a house, made other improvements and engaged in general farming with such success that about 1870 he was able to add one hundred and forty-six acres to the original purchase. He had experienced many of the hardships of pioneer life but had derived from his diligent cultivation of his fields a large income and consequently in 1885 felt he was justified in removing to Davenport to spend the rest of his life in retirement. There his death occurred March 31, 1905. When admitted to citizenship, he espoused the cause of the republican party and ever gave stanch allegiance to it. He was not an office seeker, however, although as road supervisor and in other capacities he rendered the community efficient service, his record ever being one which commanded universal respect. His wife had died about two years before him, her death having occurred April 11, 1903. They were the parents of seven children, namely:
William, of Grinnell, Iowa; Louisa, the deceased wife of Hugo Stange; Adoph, who has also passed away; Emily, the wife of J. B. Frahm, of Davenport; Henry, deceased; Alvena, who resides in Davenport; and Julius C., the subject of this sketch.

Julius C. Vogt has spent his entire life in Sheridan township and has been identified with its agricultural pursuits from the time he was able to assist in plowing, cultivating or harvesting. When of suitable age he became a pupil in the district school near his home, therein deriving that fundamental training that fitted him for later responsibilities. After he put aside his text-books he operated the home farm in conjunction with his father until 1885, when he married and assumed the full burden of its care, for Mr. Vogt, Sr., retired then and removed to Davenport. For almost a quarter of a century after that date, Julius Vogt devoted all his time and thought to cultivating the one hundred and seventy acres which are his and with each year saw a substantial increase in the value of the harvests he reaped, for he spared no labor and made a thorough study of the soil so that he obtained the best results possible. At the same time he managed his affairs with sound business judgment that conserved his resources and made possible his retirement to Mount Joy, in November, 1909. Although so signally successful as a farmer, he was not blind to advantages to be gained through connection with the financial world and accordingly secured stock in the Farmers & Mechanics Bank, of Davenport.

On the 26th of March, 1885, Mr. Vogt was married to Miss Amelia Kuehl, like her husband a native of Sheridan township and a daughter of Claus and Elizabeth (Thomson) Kuehl. Her father was born December 3, 1830, and died May 5, 1892, while her mother was born October 5, 1837, and died March 24, 1908. They came to Scott county in the early years of its settlement, and both are now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vogt have been born five children, as follows: Christ, who is at home; Emil, who married Miss Blanch Muhs, and lives on the old homestead; Henry and Carl, who are twins and live at home; and Hilda, also at home.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Vogt has stanchly supported the democratic party, on whose ticket he was elected to the office of township trustee. For nine years he discharged the duties devolving upon him while serving in that capacity. At present he is residing in Mount Joy, in a pleasant home he built in 1909, where a generous hospitality is extended by both Mr. and Mrs. Vogt to their large circle of friends. He belongs to the He belongs to the Turner Society in Eldridge.

“From Vol.2 History of Davenport and Scott County” by Harry E. Downer—S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago"
Submitted by Barb Z. 0409
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