John Anderegg,
a retired farmer who now makes his home in Guttenberg,
has been for over forty years identified with the
development and progress of Clayton County; when he first
set eyes upon it, it was a wild uncultivated piece of
prairie, sparsely settled and having but little promise
of the great future before it. By his assistance and that
of the many worthy pioneers who located here in the early
'50s, thereafter devoting their energies to its
improvement and cultivation, it has come to be known as
one of the best and most fertile counties in the
sisterhood of the State.
Samuel Anderegg, father of our subject, was born in
Switzerland, where he lived until after his marriage, and
then started for America, becoming a resident of Indiana,
in which state his death occurred in 1873. His wife, who
before her marriage was Barbara Hoobler, was also a
native of Switzerland and departed this life in Ohio.
Their son, John, was born June 12, 1824, in the land of
the Alps, and until reaching his majority, resided in
that picturesque and far-famed country. It was his
privilege to receive a good general school education, and
by his studies as well as from friends he learned of the
advantages afforded to the native and adopted sons of
America, and early made up his mind he would journey to
the western part of the United States. On may 16, 1845,
after a tedious journey on the ocean he landed in New
York City, and from there went to Ohio, where he
continued to reside for eight years. In 1853, as we have
previously related, he became one of the pioneers of
Clayton County, settling on a farm in Jefferson Township,
near where the village of Guttenberg now stands.
August 3, 1862, Mr. Anderegg volunteered his services in
the defense of his adopted country, donning the blue and
enlisting as a member of Company D, Twenty-seventh Iowa
Infantry. For meritorious and valiant service he was
promoted from the ranks to be Second, and subsequently
first Lieutenant. With his regiment he participated in
many important engagements and battles, among them,
Little Rock and Memphis, afterward being sent on the Red
River Expedition. In 1864 he was mustered out at Memphis,
Tenn., receiving an honorable discharge. Returning to
Clayton County he continued for some twenty years longer
to operate his valuable farm, which he carried on until
1884, when he retired from its arduous duties. He has
just sold his farm of two hundred and ten acres of good
farm land, all of which is under fine cultivation, and
well improved with substantial farm buildings, fences,
etc. to his son, Charles G.
In 1846, the year after his arrival in America, Mr.
Anderegg married Miss Magdalena Menger, who was a native
of Germany. To them were born five sons and three
daughters, John, Lizzie, William, Charles G., Julius,
Lydia, Emma and Herman F. The devoted wife and mother,
who for nearly forty years had been the trusted and
faithful companion and helpmate of Mr. Anderegg, was
called from this life in 1884, leaving many friends to
mourn her loss. The present wife of our subject was
formerly Louise Frieze, and their marriage was celebrated
in 1884. Of this union has been born one child, Mattie by
name.
In public and local affairs, Mr. Anderegg has always been
interested, taking his share, and doing all in his power
to advance the best interests of the community. The boys
in blue have ever occupied a warm place in his heart, and
he is a charter member and one of the founders of Hasen
Deufel Post No. 146, G.A.R. Politically, he votes with
the Republican party.
~source: Portrait and Biographical Record
of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman
Pub. Co., 1894; pg. 435-436
~transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall
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