Silas Troendle
Silas Troendle
Allamakee county lost one of the most deservedly honored and
most highly respected of its pioneer citizens when Silas Troendle
was called to his final rest, May 5, 1900. He was at that time
seventy-four years of age and practically his entire active life
had been spent in this part of Iowa so that he was among its
oldest residents, having been a witness of its growth and
development since pioneer times. He was the broad prairies
claimed and converted into productive farms, he saw the founding
towns and the building of cities and witnessed the growth of the
county as it became settled by a prosperous people. In all the
work of progress he was an active participant and his well spent
life, which would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny,
gained him the unqualified respect and honor of his fellowmen.
Mr. Troendle was numbered among the many active, industrious and
upright citizens whom Germany has given to the new work, for he
was born in Baden, January 28, 1826, remaining in his native
country until he had reached maturity. As a young man he
emigrated to the United States and after working on a farm in
Ohio for three years, came to Iowa, making his home with his
brother in Makee township, Allamakee county, for a short time.
Afterward however he purchased land of his own, buying one
hundred and sixty acres on section 9, Center township, a farm
which he continued to develop and improve until his death. When
Mr. Troendle came to Iowa pioneer conditions prevailed everywhere
and pioneer hardships and difficulties had to be met with and
conquered. His own farm was a wild and unimproved tract, which he
had to clear before the work of cultivation could be begun. Upon
it he build a crude log house in which he and his family lived
for many years, it being eventually replaced by a second log
cabin which still stands upon the property, although it has been
plastered and weather-boarded and made to look like a frame
dwelling. After the work of breaking his land and opening up a
new farm was completed, Mr. Troendle turned his attention to
general farming and stock-raising and the years brought him
prosperity as the reward of his close application and honorable
labor. With confidence and courage he carried forward the work of
development, building the necessary farm buildings and installing
the needed machinery, keeping constantly in touch with the trend
of agricultural progress and in time making his farm one of the
finest and best equipped in this section.
Mr. Troendle married in March, 1860, Miss Anna Mary Kehr, a
native of Germany, who when she was three years of age was
brought to America by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kehr. Mr.
and Mrs. Troendle became the parents of eleven children, seven of
whom are still living: Frank S., a farmer of Center township;
Anna Mary, the wife of William Hansmann of Waukon; Matilda, who
married Christ Schach; William, who resides in Excelsior,
Minnesota; George, who operates the old homestead; Elizabeth, who
married Ferdinand Gruber of Lansing township; and Louisa, the
wife of Gust Doehler of North Dakota.
Silas Troendle died upon the farm whereon he had so long resided
on the 5th of May, 1900, and his passing deprived Allamakee
county of one of the earliest and most worthy of her pioneers. He
gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and
although he never aspired to public office, served as road
supervisor. He was a devout member of the Roman Catholic church
and in his upright and honorable life exemplified the doctrines
in which he believed. For many years he was closely associated
with work of development and progress in this part of the state
and he remained throughout his life an esteemed and loved
resident of Allamakee county.
Mrs. Troendle survives him and makes her home with her son
George, who is carrying on the work of the homestead, being today
recognized as one of the active and progressive young farmers of
this section. He was born on the farm which he now owns on the
30th of July, 1871, and acquired his education in the district
school. For many years before the death of his father he managed
the farm and after the latter’s demise purchased the
interest of the other heirs and is now sole proprietor of two
hundred and eighty acres of well improved and productive land. He
is practical and progressive in his methods and therefore
successful, his farm being one of the finest agricultural
properties in the county.
George Troendle married, in Allamakee county, Miss Frances
Rettinger, a native of Lansing township and a daughter of Christ
and Catherine (Rehberger) Rettinger, the former of whom has
passed away. The widow now makes her home in Lansing. Mr. and
Mrs. George Troendle have five children, Silas L., Louisa Alice,
Otto Harold, Carl Henry and George C. Mr. Troendle gives his
political allegiance to the democratic party and is a devout
member of the Catholic church. A practical and capable farmer and
a loyal and upright citizen he has ably carried forward the work
his father began and his excellent record is a credit to a name
that has been honored in Allamakee county since pioneer times.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed and submitted by Diana Diedrich
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