Ferdinand Schlapkohl Biography >From "History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. Surnames: Schlapkohl, Korn, Wohlert, Petersen. Davenport has a large percentage of German people who, imbued with the spirit of progress, sought the opportunities of the new world, bringing with them the salient characteristics of the Teutonic race, which has ever been an important element in the colonization of America. To this number belongs Ferdinand Schlapkohl, now a retired business man and one of the veterans of the Civil war. His life record commends him to the confidence and good will of all and cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. Mr. Schlapkohl was born in Holstein, Germany, April 22, 1841, and is a son of Henry and Margaret Schlapkohl. The father was a farmer in his native land and left that country for America in 1853, accompanied by his family. He did not live to reach his destination, however but died on the voyage. The mother and her four children afterward continued on their way to Davenport, where they had friends living. The two sisters, Kathryn and Dora, and the brother Henry Schlapkohl are all now deceased, while the mother passed away in 1856. Ferdinand Schlapkohl attended school for about six years in Germany and after coming to America worked by the month as a farm hand in the summer seasons, while in the winter he attended school. He also took care of race horses in his young days and at different times was employed as a clerk in a store in Rock Island, where he obtained his first experience in the grocery business. He then enlisted on the 23d of September, 1861, as a member of Company I, Twelfth Missouri Infantry. He was enrolled at Davenport and joined his regiment at St. Louis, where he obtained his first experience in the grocery business. He then enlisted on the 23d of September, 1861, as a member of Company I, Twelfth Missouri Infantry. He was enrolled at Davenport and joined his regiment at St. Louis, after which he went up the Missouri river to Jefferson City, where the regiment were in camp for a couple of weeks, proceeding thence by rail to Sedalia, where they spent two day. They afterward marched to! Springfield, Missouri, and winter quarters were established at Rolla, Missouri. In January, however, they broke camp and proceeded southward into Arkansas, participating in the battle of Pea Ridge, the next battle at Chickasaw Bayou occurring about New Year's day of 1862, after which the troops took part in the battle of Arkansas Post. Later came the battles of Jackson and Vicksburg, including the siege of the latter place until its capitulation. From that point the regiment proceeded to Memphis, where three days were spent, after which they started to Chattanooga and took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, proceeding on the Ringgold, where they again met the enemy in a hotly contested engagement. From that point they went to Woodville, Alabama, and camped there until May 1st. Mr. Schlapkohl with his command was all through the Atlanta campaign and after the capture of the city he was mustered out at St. Louis, September 23, 1864, by reason of the! expiration of his three years' term of service. Mr. Schlapkohl then returned to Davenport and in 1866 joined Mr. Prim in the grocery business on Harrison street. Later they removed to Second street, where the business was conducted until 1871, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Schlapkohl remaining alone in the grocery trade for thirty-seven years, or until the time of his retirement in 1903. For more than a third of a century he was one of the well known leading and prominent grocery merchants of the city, having a large trade which came to him as the result of his well selected line of goods, his careful business management, his reasonable prices and honorable dealing. On the 22d of June, 1868, occurred the marriage of Mr. Schlapkohl and Miss Theresa Schmidt, a daughter of Carl Schmidt, of Long Grove. Unto them have been born seven children: Hulda, who married Charles Korn, of Davenport, and has three children, Gertrude, Ferdinand and Charles; Matilda, the wife of Chris Wohlert, of this city; Henry, deceased; Marie, at home; William, a business man of Durant, Iowa, who married Miss Petersen and has one child, Alice; Dora, who is a teacher in the schools of Davenport; and Thelka, at home. Mr. Schlapkohl is a member of the Unitarian church and also belongs to the Turners and the Pioneer German Society. In politics he is a republican and is a citizen of worth, loyal at all times to high principles of manhood and to the best interests of municipal, state and national government. Moreover, he is a self-made man, dependent upon his own resources from an early age, working earnestly for the success which he has achieved, realizing ever that "there is no excellence without labor." His diligence has constituted the key that has unlocked for him the portals of success, enabling him now to live retired. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES