Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Ostdiek, Herman B. 1855 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 14, 2015, 1:42 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

HERMAN B. OSTDIEK.
Herman B. Ostdiek, engaged in the manufacture of brick in Ottumwa, has a well
equipped plant and the excellence of his product constitutes the salient feature
in his growing success. For forty years he has continued in this line of
business, and his output during that period has averaged a million and a quarter
bricks. He was born in Lee county, Iowa, March 15, 1855, and is a son of
Ferdinand B. and Catherine (Schnitker) Ostdiek, who were natives of Munster,
Westphalia, Germany, both born in the year 1814. They were reared and married in
their native land and with their two older children came to Iowa in 1846,
settling in Lee county, where their remaining days were passed. The father
followed school teaching in Germany, but in the United States carried on general
farming, owning a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of land. He also taught
school for a few years in Lee county and was an excellent penman, he also
engaged in the manufacture of lime and brick to some extent. His political
allegiance was given to the democratic party, and his religious faith was that
of the Catholic church. He died in 1873,	while his wife passed away in 1885.
They had ten children, of whom four died in early life, while six are yet
living: Gerhard and John, residents of Neola, Iowa; Mrs. Minnie Soppe, also
living in Neola; Mrs. Elizabeth Holtfaster, of Council Bluffs; Herman B.; and
Mrs. Mary Holtkamp, of Lee county.

Herman B. Ostdiek was a resident of Lee county until 1870, when he came to
Ottumwa and joined his brother Gerhard, who had established a brick yard at this
place, making the first brick here. Herman was employed by his brother until he
reached the age of twenty-one years and was then admitted to a partnership. In
1898 he purchased his brother's interest and has since conducted the business
alone. He has averaged about one million, two hundred and fifty thousand bricks
for the last forty years, and his entire life has been devoted to brick
manufacturing. He is familiar with every phase of the business, utilizes modern
processes and is very successful in the conduct of his business. In addition to
his plant he owns eighty-eight acres of land where he resides, twenty-eight of
it being within the city limits, his home being situated at No. 1003 East
Pennsylvania avenue. He also has fourteen acres of land where his brick yard is
located at Riverview.

On the 1st of March, 1881, Mr. Ostdiek was married to Miss Ellen M. Derks, who
was born in Center township, this county, July 15, 1854, and has resided here
all her life, being baptized in St. Mary's church. She is a daughter of Gerhard
and Petronella (Kosman) Derks, both of whom were natives of Holland, in which
country they were reared and married. The father was born January 15, 1825, and
the mother on the 29th of September, 1829. They' crossed the Atlantic to New
Orleans and thence made their way up the Mississippi river in 1850. Mr. Derks
engaged in general agricultural pursuits and in the raising of bees and the
production of honey. He died November 15, 1910, while his wife passed away June
4, 1873. They were the parents of six children: Mrs. Johanna Yager, living in
Ottumwa, Mrs. Ostdiek; Mrs. Rose Stoy, of Chicago; Theodore, of Clyde, Missouri;
Mrs. Anna Thometz of Chicago; and John W., of Gotebo, Oklahoma. On coming to
Iowa Mr. Derks walked with his wife from Eddyville to Ottumwa, a distance of
fifteen miles, as there was no railroad. He was a great skater, displaying
marked skill on the ice, and he would often skate on the river from Eddyville to
Ottumwa to attend mass, thus making the round trip of thirty-four miles.

To Mr. and Mrs. Ostdiek have been born six children: Mary Katherine, at home;
Rose, the wife of C. Y. Shurtz, of Oskaloosa; Gerhard P., who is with his father
in the brick business; Ferdinand T., also with his father; Laurence J., at home;
and Joseph H., who is attending Creighton University in Omaha.

In his political views Mr. Ostdiek is a democrat and has supported the men and
measures of that party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He
was reared in the Catholic faith and is now a member of St. Mary's church, of
which his family are also communicants. His long connection with the industrial
interests of Ottumwa has made him well known in its business circles, and the
success which he has won is the merited reward of his earnest, persistent and
honorable effort.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/wapello/bios/ostdiek904gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/

File size: 5.2 Kb