Louis Schroeder, hotel-keeper, Elkader, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, March 3, 1832. He was the son of William and Elizabeth (Albrecht) Schroeder. He came to America with his brother Henry in ,June, 1851, landing at New Orleans. Thence he proceeded to Guttenberg, and from thence started inland to start a colony with Mr. Wullweber and Dr. Brockman. This was called Liberty Colony, and was situated on what is now the Eberhardt farm, between Elkport and Communia, three miles from each. The company bought 900 acres of land, but lasted only two years. The land was then sold to John Thompson. Mr. Schroeder remained with the colony only three months, and then returned to St. Louis, where he worked at his trade of tailoring nearly two years. While there he joined the "Arbeiter Bund," which organization started the German colony at what is now called Communia. He soon after came up the river and joined this colony, at the time when the colonists were attempting to build a grist-mill, a project which was afterward abandoned. He remained with this colony about one year. With many other young people he then left the colony. Mr. Schroeder went to Auburn, Fayette County, where he worked at his trade two months. At this time he learned English. Thence he came to Elkader, and started in the tailoring business with A. Saltzer. He was married July 20, 1855, to Louisa Meder, sister of Henry Meder. About 1857 Mr. Schroeder removed to Clermont, where he remained one year. Then he returned to Elkader, and in 1861 he moved to Clayton, where he clerked six years. In 1867 he removed to Motor, where he built and opened a general store. This he kept for about nine years. In 1877 he removed to Elkader, leased the Mulberry street property of A. Kramer, and opened "Schroeder's Hotel." This has steadily gained in popularity until it now enjoys a large share of the patronage of the traveling community. Mr. Schroeder has a family of six children-- Emma (Mrs. Runge), Ida, Carrie (wife of Orville Partch, of Rock Rapids, Ia.), Henry (in Nebraska), Hugo and Otto. Mr. Schroeder is a Republican, and a member of the Free-masons and United Workmen. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 669 |