Muschewske Brothers Muschewske Brothers constitute a firm of editors and publishers who are prominent and representative factors in the newspaper profession in Clayton county, where they own and conduct most progressively the Guttenberg Press, which they have brought to high standard as one of the influential weekly newspapers of this section of their native state and in connection with their newspaper publishing they maintain also a well equipped job office. The two brothers are prominent and valued business men of the fine little city of Guttenberg, and in their native county their circle of friends is coincident with that of their acquaintances. Louis C. Muschewske, the senior member of the firm, was born at Elkader, the judicial center of Clayton county, on the 19th of July, 1881, and Harry J., the junior member of the firm, was there born on the 15th of April, 1887. They are Sons of Friedrich Wilhelm and Elisa (Ortman) Muschewske, whose marriage was solemnized at Elkader on the 7th of September, 1879, and of whose four children two are deceased. The father was born at Marien Werder, Prussia, Germany, on the 25th of May, 1839, and the mother was born at Stolpe, near Neustadt, in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, on the 2d of April, 1851, both having been reared and educated in their native places. Friedrich W. Muschewske became a resident of Clayton county, Iowa, in 1873, and after remaining a short time at Elkport he removed to Elkader, where he engaged in the harness business and where he passed the residue of his long, useful and honorable life, his death having occurred on the 2lst of May, 1897. This sterling citizen had represented his native land as a valiant soldier in the Franco-Prussian war, in 1870-71, and it was soon after the close of this historic conflict that he came to America. He was in full sympathy with the government and institutions of the land of his adoption, was a man of superior mentality and broad views, was a Democrat in his political adherency, and both he and his wife early became earnest communicants of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Muschewske became a resident of Clayton county in 1874 and she now maintains her home at Guttenberg, venerable in years and sustained and comforted by the loving devotion of her two sons. The Muschewske brothers both continued to attend the public schools of Elkader until they had completed the curriculum of the high school. On the 20th of June, 1898, Louis C. began at Elkader his novitiate in newspaper work, where he found employment in the office of the Nord Iowa Herold. Later he was associated with other newspapers in the state, and for a number of years thereafter he followed the musical profession, his talent in this line being of high order. On the 12th of May, 1911, he became associated with his brother in the purchasing of the plant and business of the Guttenberg Press, and they have since continued as editors and publishers of this alert and vigorous weekly paper and in the control of the prosperous job-printing business that has been developed under their progressive management. Harry J. Muschewske formed his alliance with the “art preservative of all arts” in April, 1903, when he became connected with the Nord Iowa Herold, with which he continued his alliance at Elkader until he removed to Guttenberg and became his brother’s partner in the thriving newspaper enterprise which they have since conducted. The Press is a vital exponent of the best sentiment and action of the community and its policy is distinctively one of loyalty and progressiveness. The two brothers designate themselves as independent Democrats in politics and are essentially loyal and public-spirited citizens. Louis C. is affiliated with Guttenberg Lodge, No. 126, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Harry J. with the local organization of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. At Guttenberg, on the 4th of October, 1911, was solemnized the marriage of Louis C. Muschewske to Miss Minnie K. Soltau, who was born in Guttenberg, this county, on the 21st of December, 1888. No children have been born of this union. At Elkader, on the 14th of September, 1911, Harry J. Muschewske wedded Miss Louise D. Pupke, who likewise is a native of this county, where she was born July 2, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Harry J. Muschewske have a winsome little daughter, Arleen, who was born May 20, 1912, in Guttenberg. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to
the Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II; page
292-293 |