Charles Mentzel was born in Germany, July 26, 1831, and was a son of Charles and Johanna (Leonard) Mentzel, of German nativity. His father died in 1846, his mother in 1880. Charles emigrated to America in 1853, and spent the first of his residence in this county in Chicago, Ill. From there he came to Clayton County, and worked at the mason's trade in Garnavillo four years, then purchased a farm in sections 10 and 11, Cox Creek Township, where he now resides. It consists of 160 acres of fertile land well improved, and is one of the finest farms in the great grain-producing State of Iowa. Mr. Mentzel was married in 1855, to Dinah Zahrndt. Her parents, John and Wilhelmina Zahrndt, were natives of Germany, and came to America in 1853. She died here in 1873. He resides with the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Mentzel have had three children—Julia, born Sept. 15, 1856, married Henry Keohn of Boardman Township; Martha, born July 15, 1864, is engaged in teaching school; and Alma, born July 4, 1867. Since his residence here Mr. Mentzel has shown himself eminently fitted to hold public positions of honor and trust, and has served in nearly all the township offices. He represented his district two years in the Legislature, and is at present Secretary of the Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Communia, Iowa. He has ever been active in politics, and has given the Republican party his support. He is a member of A.O.U.W. lodge at Elkader. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 748 |