REPP, Nicholas 1829-1876
REPP, HURBERT, RICKERT, CLINEFELTER
Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 4/4/2012 at 22:06:33
Nicholas Repp, was long one of the active business men of Waterloo and a very highly esteemed citizen of several counties of Iowa.
Nicholas was born September 29, 1829, in Germany, and was a son of Nicholas Repp, who died in that country, the father of three children, the only survivor being John Repp, a resident of Albany, New York.
In 1848, he came to America and settled in West Sand Lake, New York, where he conducted a blacksmith business of his own. In 1852 he was there married to the estimable wife who survives him, and who aided so materially in his later success. Mrs. Repp, formerly Anna Maria Rickert, was born in Germany, September 6, 1833, a daughter of John and Catherine (Hurbert) Rickert, both of whom were born in Germany, where the mother died. In 1846 the father brought to America his motherless children, who were as follows: Anna Maria (Mrs. Repp), the eldest of the family; Catherine, who married John Michael and had six children; Mary Louisa (single); Martha, who married Burr Lynch, of Mount Vernon Township, and had two children - Rueben and Vi; Anna, who married John W. Clinefelter, of Waterloo, and has one child - Esther C.; Amanda, who married John Padget and had three children - Howard E., Edith May and Anna Louisa; Kate, widow of the late Platt Thomas, and the mother of two children - Florence and Chester; and George A. (single). Mrs. Repp's father settled on a farm in New York, where he died at the age of 64 years.
In 1858, Nicholas Repp sold his blacksmith business in New York and care to Bremer County, Iowa, where he bought a farm of 40 acres, which included a log house, a corn crib filled with corn, horses, cows, pigs, bins of wheat and agricultural implements, for which he paid the sum of $900. He he prospered on account of his energy and industry, being at all times ably assisted by his wife, and continued to live in Bremer County until 1869. He had carried on blacksmithing in the meantime and had added more land, some 20 acres of timber, but finally decided to sell out and remove to Waterloo, and to devote the rest of his active life to his trade.
He built a shop in Waterloo and continued to be engaged in blacksmithing as long as health held out. His death occurred November 15, 1876. He left no issue.
In politics Mr. Repp was a Republican, but he was a man of quiet manner and forced his opinions on no one, living in peace and friendship with all his fellow citizens. His who business career was marked with perfect honesty, and he left a name that was always held in respect by his fellow citizens. His industry and frugality resulted in the acquisition of a competency, and it gave him pleasure to feel that he had provided so well for the welfare of his loving helpmeet.
Mrs. Repp is a lady of public spirit and tender heart. She is a generous contributor to all charitable institutions and benevolent movements, fully to the extent of her means. She was one of the contributors to the building of the Waterloo Hospital. Her private charities are large and she takes delight in quietly relieving distress and helping those in want. This most estimable lady enjoys the esteem and affection of a large circle.
[History of Black Hawk County, Iowa and Representative Citizens 1837-1903; Hudson Library]
Black Hawk Biographies maintained by Karen De Groote.
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