Jake Hintermeister 1858 - 1927

HINTERMEISTER, ALTEKRUSE, ALTERKRUSE, ALTACRUSE

Posted By: Ed Hintermeister (email)
Date: 11/25/2008 at 12:21:28

Jake Hintermeister
4 April 1858 - 10 March 1927

Jake Hintermeister was born 4 April 1858 in Muscatine, Iowa. He was the second child of his German immigrant parents to be born in America. Jake's father, John (Johannes), came to America in 1854 and his mother, Elizabeth, came to America on 24 July 1855.

Jake came from a large family of eight children. Jake and his siblings are listed in the order of birth as follows:

***Maria Barbara****(17 July 1854 - 29 July 1854)
***John Buchanan****( 2 August 1856 - 30 January 1939)
***Jake************( 4 April 1858 - 10 March 1927)
***Frederick John****(15 February 1862 - 2 November 1926)
***Rosina B.********(24 October 1864 - 30 January 1914)
***George J.********(24 July 1867 - 20 March 1949)
***William Bernhardt**(15 February 1870 - 7 July 1887)
***Male Child********(Unknown)

The Muscatine City Directory of 1877 - 1878 shows that Jake was employed as a laborer, and boarding with his parents. The following year in 1879, Jake was employed by Hershey's Lumber Company.

At age 22 the 1800 Census shows that Jake was still working at the saw mill, however, at the time of the census, Jake had been unemployed for six months.

On 4 April 1881, Jake married Henrietta (Etta) Altekruse (also Alterkruse and Altacruse), at the German Evangelical Church (now combined with the United Church of Christ). Etta was born 8 September 1862, and was the youngest of six children. Etta’s father, Jacob Altekruse (~1819 - Unknown) was a tailor from Prussia, and her mother, Margaret Altekruse (~1826 – 29 Apr 1914) was from Hanover, Germany.

Jacob and Margaret’s oldest son, August, was born in Missouri in ~1847, so the Altekruse family had immigrated to America by that time. Their daughter, Caroline, was born in Iowa, so the family had moved to Iowa between 1847 and 1849, and the 1850 census shows that the family was living in Muscatine. The 1870 census only shows Margaret Altekruse, and her husband is no longer listed, so he is presumed deceased. The 1870 census also shows that August was in the Army. Margaret’s occupation was shown as keeping house. Etta and her siblings are listed as follows:

***August*****(born ~1847)
***Caroline****(born ~1849)
***Emma******(born ~1857)
***Julia*******(born ~1859)
***Hattie******(born ~1859)
***Henrietta***( 8 Sep 1862 - 5 Sep 1950)

Jake and Etta had one child, Hattie Margaret (9 December 1881 - 29 November 1971). Hattie married Howard Clayton Vanatta (11 September 1874 - 14 September 1912) on 4 April 1900, and had one child named Muriel.

By 1900 Jake was working as a farmer. According to the 1900 Census, Jake owned his farm, and was still paying a mortgage.

In 1910 Jake was working as a harness maker at a harness factory, and the family was living at 1208 Oak Street in Muscatine. The 1910 Census shows that the family had a full household. In addition to Jake and Etta, Hattie, Hattie's husband Howard Vanatta, and their nine year old daughter, Muriel, were living in the home. Jake and Etta were also renting rooms to two roomers, Charles Kliest and Henry Nicholas.

On 20 October 1913, Etta purchased a home at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Oak Street in Muscatine. The following year on 1 April 1914, Etta purchased another property at public auction, which was located near the intersection of Oak Street and Woodlawn Avenue .

A few years later in September 1919, Etta sold the home near the intersection of Oak Street and Woodlawn Avenue . They then purchased another home close by near the intersection of Oak Street and Cottage Street .

In March 1920, Etta sold their home at Maple Avenue and Oak Street to their daughter, Hattie Vanatta. Then in March 1922, Jake and Etta purchased another property in 77 Township .

On Thursday 10 March 1927 Jake died at the age of 68 at his home located at 309 East Fourth Street. Jake is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Etta lived to the old age of 87. She died at the home of her daughter at 1300 Oak Street on 5 September 1950. Etta is also buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Unfortunately, Jake's family line has stopped. Muriel Vanatta (3 January 1900 - 6 January 1975) married Murice Meeker (4 February 1899 - 19 September 1955), but the couple had no children. Since Muriel was Jake's only grandchild, her death left no living descendants.