Benedict Troendle
Benedict and Hedwig (Nierling) Troendle
Benedict Troendle has lived in Allamakee county for sixty-one
years and he is one of the very few who have so long witnessed
its growth and development. During the time he has made
substantial contributions towards its upbuilding by opening up
and developing a number of fine farms, and by his upright
dealings, his high integrity and his honorable and worthy life
has aided in raising standards of business and of citizenship. As
a result he is known and honored all over this section of Iowa
and is today one of the leading and representative citizens of
Waukon where he is living practically retired.
Mr. Troendle was born in Baden, Germany, March 25, 1831, and
acquired an excellent education in his native city where he
remained until he was nineteen years of age. He became proficient
in Latin and French as well as German for he studied for the
priesthood, never, however, taking orders. In 1850 he emigrated
to the new world, going immediately to Ohio and joining his
brother, Sales, in Huron county. There he went to work on a farm,
engaging in agricultural pursuits during the summer months and in
the winter attending an English school. For two years thereafter
he continued as a farm laborer and then in 1852 came with his
brother to Iowa and settled in Allamakee county where he has
since resided being today one of the earliest living residents.
They purchased eighty acres in French Creek township and also
twenty acres adjoining, buying this latter tract from a neighbor
in order to get the benefit of a spring of clear, cold water
which supplied enough for all domestic purposes and also for
watering the stock. The land was raw and unimproved but with
characteristic energy the brothers set about the task of
developing it, clearing it of timber, breaking the soil, and
fencing the property into convenient fields. In 1856 Benedict
Troendle purchased his brother’s interest and continued the
work of improvement alone, erecting the necessary outbuildings
and tilling the fields in the most practical manner, his
progressive methods and well directed industry bringing him a
substantial measure of success. He continued upon this farm until
1865 when he disposed of the property and purchased another tract
of land of one hundred and twenty acres, slightly improved. He
made this also a valuable and productive enterprise, selling it
in 1868 and buying in the same year eighty acres in Makee
township near Lycurgus. To this he later added another two
hundred acres of which a part was improved when it came into his
possession, and he cleared this property and fenced it into
fields, continuing upon it for twelve years and making it
eventually one of the finest and best improved farms in this part
of the country. It was during the period of his residence upon it
that he was made postmaster of Lycurgus and he held this office
for many years, discharging his duties in an able,
straightforward and systematic manner. He is numbered among the
pioneers in French Creek township and was long a potent force in
its development, cooperating heartily in movements for the
general good and giving his active support to all progressive
public measures. He helped in the organization of the first
school, donating a half acre of land for the schoolhouse and also
became a leader in founding the first independent school in
Lycurgus. Always interested in the cause of education, he gave
freely of his time and talents in this direction, accomplishing
much far-sighted, discriminating and beneficial work during a
long period of service as a member of the school board. Mr.
Troendle erected a comfortable residence upon his farm wherein he
continued to reside until 1892 when he laid aside the cares of
active life, moving into Waukon where he has since lived retired.
On the 29th of July, 1855, Mr. Troendle married Miss Hedwig
Nierling, also a native of Germany, born and reared in Prussia.
She is a daughter of Anton Nierling, who emigrated to America and
made a permanent location in Allamakee county in 1854, purchasing
land in Makee township and turning his attention to general
farming. Mr. and Mrs. Troendle became the parents of five
children: Julia, who married Gus Kerndt, a farmer of French Creek
township, passed away in 1910 when she was forty-eight years of
age. Caroline became the wife of J. W. Rice of Waterloo, Iowa.
Mary married John Miller of Waukon. Johanna became the wife of
Dan Haas. Gustave, youngest member of this family, owns and
operates the old home farm in Makee township. On the 29th of
July, 1905, Mr. and Mrs. Troendle celebrated the completion of
fifty years of a peaceful and happy wedded life, their golden
wedding anniversary being attended by their children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren to the number of
thirty-two, who together with over two hundred friends, gathered
at the home in Waukon, making the day one of gladness and
rejoicing. They presented many tokens as souvenirs of the
occasion, endeavoring in this way to express in some slight
degree the love and veneration in which they held these worthy
people, to whom they were bound by many ties of love and
friendship.
Few if any men of Allamakee county are more widely known or more
highly honored throughout this section of the state than is Mr.
Troendle, who for over sixty-one years has lived in the county
and who during all of that period has honorably borne his share
in the work of upbuilding and development. Viewed from any
standpoint, his life may be termed successful, for he has
accumulated a comfortable fortune, has drawn to himself many
loyal and faithful friends and has made his name an honored one
wherever it is known.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Linda Earnheart
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