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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 463]

    JOHN H. UMHOEFER, the subject of this biographical sketch, has
    been closely connected with the business interests of Cherokee
    since 1874.  He is proprietor of one of the most successful
    stores in the city, carrying a full line of groceries, crockery,
    boots and shoes.  His trade is extensive both in the city and the
    country tributary to Cherokee.  Mr. UMHOEFER is a native of Wis-
    consin, born at White Water in April, 1861.  His father, THEODORE
    UMHOEFER, a native of Germany, came to America when eighteen years
    of age.  He married ANNA MUELLENBURGH, and settled in Wisconsin.
    From that State the family removed to Winneshiek County, Iowa, and
    thence to Cherokee County.  The parents still reside on the farm
    in Sheridan Township.  JOHN H. is the oldest son and third child
    of a family of five.  He attended the common school, and then
    entered the State University at Iowa City, where he took a tho-
    rough course in the Commercial Department, graduating in 1881.
    Upon leaving school he went to Jordan, Minnesota, entering the
    employ of FRANK NICOLIN as book-keeper, with whom he remained
    one year, when he went to Wayne, Nebraska. There he embarked
    in general merchandising, which business he operated only three
    months when he sold out and returned to Cherokee.  This was in
    November, 1883, and he then put in a $4,000 stock of groceries,
    near what is now the Boston Restaurant, on West Main street. He
    removed to his present quarters in the VANDERCOOK Block in March,
    1886.  He occupies a room 24x100 feet, and a large basement; he
    carries a very large and well-selected stock of choice staple and
    fancy groceries, queen's-ware, boots and shoes; he employs the most
    obliging salesmen, and has made for himself a large and paying
    business.  Mr. UMHOEFER was married in January, 1884, to Miss KATIE
    HOLTEY, of Winneshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of Theodore HOLTEY.
    They have had one child born to them, THEODORE EUGENE.  Mr. UMHOEFER
    is a very correct and prudent business man, and hence has been
    frequently called upon to fill various local offices of responsi-
    bility and trust.  He was elected city recorder in 1886, and is
    still holding that office.  He is secretary of the Retail Merchants'
    Association of Cherokee County, and one of the stockholders and
    directors of the Cherokee Building and Loan Association.  In reli-
    gious belief he is a Roman Catholic, and is one of the trustees of
    the church, having held that position for six years.  Politically
    he is a Democrat, and is secretary of the Democratic Central
    Committee of his county.  He is among the few young men who have
    commenced life without capital, and by virtue of strict business
    principles and industry have become the possessors of a fine busi-
    ness before middle life and Mr. UMHOEFER can honestly boast of hav-
    ing earned every dollar himself.

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