Wednesday, September 8, 2010

J. W. Krapfell

Company G.

The subject of this sketch was born on March 30th, 1842, in the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, and is the youngest of a family of six children. In 1846 the family emigrated to America, arriving at St. Louis, Missouri, in the early spring of that year. In the same year they departed for Dubuque, Iowa, and in 1847 located on some Government land in Dubuque county. He first attended school at New Wine, going a distance of three miles on foot daily with an older brother. In 1853 he returned to Dubuque and finished his studies in the public schools of that city. At the commencement of the war he was a clerk in the general merchandising firm of O'Farrell, Patterson & Co., of Dubuque.

On June 13th, 1861, he with his friend Ed. J. Brown enlisted under Captain H. H. Heath in Company G, First Iowa Cavalry, as private, and served in company in that capacity until after the battle of Prairie Grove, when ho was detailed by General Herron for service in the commissary department. After the departure of General Herron farther south, and the breaking up of his division at Prairie Grove, he returned to his company and remained with it until after the capture of Little Rock, when he was detailed as clerk in the commissary department under Captain Arden R. Smith. Quartermaster of the Seventh Army Corps, at Little Rock, which position he held until the expiration of his term of enlistment.

On September 9th, 1864, he was mustered out of the service at Davenport, Iowa, and returned to Dubuque, where in the fall of that year he entered the service of Messrs. Woods & Jackson, dry goods merchants, remaining with them until September 19th, 1867. He then took a position with the German Savings Bank of Dubuque, and remained with that institution until May, 1871. On May 21st, 1871, he located at Waterloo, Iowa, and took a position as bookkeeper in the National Savings Bank, and has ever since been connected with banking institutions in that city. In 1876 he was elected assistant cashier of the First National Bank. In 1879 he was promoted to cashier, in which capacity he is now serving that organization.

The ties of friendship existing before the war between Ed. J. Brown and the subject of this sketch were strengthened during their service to their country. During their entire service, with the exception of when either one was sick, they bunked together and slept under the same blankets. Both were on detached service at the same time under General Herron and Captain Arden R. Smith. The meeting of such comrades at the triennial reunions of the regiment is truly a source of great pleasure; it revives in their memories and rekindles in their hearts the scenes around the camp-fires, and the joys and sorrows of those days which will ever remain green in their memories.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lothrop, A History Of The First Regiment Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, p. 341-2

No comments: