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George Fengler
Extracted from Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa, 1894 Reprinted by Higginson Book Co., Salem, Massachusetts, p. 221

GEORGE FENGLER, owner of the Eagle Point Lime Works of Dubuque, established business along this line in 1872, beginning operations on a very limited scale, but as his trade increased he enlarged his facilities and in 1888 built his present extensive plant. The capacity is now two hundred and fifty barrels of lime every twenty-four hours and employment is furnished to thirty men. The lime is shipped to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota and all over Iowa, for the product of the works is of a very excellent quality and therefore an extensive business has been secured. Mr. Fengler is conversant with the manufacture of lime in all its departments and now has the largest and finest plant in the state. He also handles all kinds of cement, hair, brick, etc., used for building material.

A native of Germany, Mr. Fengler was born near Breslau in 1841. His father, Ernest Fengler, on immigrating to America took up his residence in Dubuque, where he embarked in the ice business and established the first market garden in this city. On the breaking out of the late war he and four of his sons joined the boys in blue, his name being enrolled as a member of Colonel Hecker's regiment, in which he remained throughout the service. He died in August 1865, in Evansville, Ind., from the effects of exposure during his army life. Mrs. Fengler bore the maiden name of Emily Seidel, and was also a native of Germany. Her death occurred in Dubuque on the 25th of January 1882.

George Fengler spent the first nine years of his life in the Fatherland and then accompanied his parents on their emigration to America. His education was completed under Prof. Charles G. Kretschmer, with whom he studied both German and English. He went to the defense of the Union during the late war, enlisting on the 21st of August, 1862, as a member of Company A, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, under command of Colonel Merrill. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Gulf and saw active service in Hartville, Mo., Magnolia Hill, the Mississippi campaign, the battle of Raymond, Miss., and Champion Hills. The Twenty-first Regiment was a part of the brigade that made the charge at Black River Bridge and participated in the siege of Vicksburg.

During the battle of Jackson, July 12,1863, Mr. Fengler was wounded but refused to leave the field until after the engagement. He was then taken to the hospital, and later rejoined his regiment in Louisiana, after which he was sent to Texas, where the troops captured Ft. Matta Gorda and spent the winter in fortifying the coast. Mr. Fengler took part in the battle of Mobile and in the siege and capture of Ft. Blakely and Spanish Fort, after which he was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa, in August 1865. He was a loyal soldier, always found at his post of duty and faithfully defended the Old Flag, which now floats so proudly over the united nation.

Ere leaving for the front Mr. Fengler was married, on the 21st of August 1861, to Alice M., daughter of Ebenezer Curtis, one of the early settlers of Dubuque. Twelve children were born to them, five daughters and seven sons, namely: Oscar, a son who died at the age of five years. Melvina, now is the wife of Henry L. Gross; Olive, wife of Herman Mouer; Alice, who is engaged in bookkeeping. Hattie, is at home; Octavia, a student in the high school. Richard, is deceased; Edwin, an engineer on the Milwaukee Railroad. George, who has charge of the cooper shop in his father's employ Leo and Randolph, who are now in school; and Orin, a boy of five years, who completes the family. The children have been given good educational advantages and are thus fitted for the practical and responsible duties in life. The family resides at No. 1059 Garfield Avenue.

On his return from the war, Mr. Fengler worked in a sawmill for a time, and in 1872 embarked in the lime business, as before stated. In connection with his other interests he is Vice-President and Director in the People's Building & Loan Association, of which he was one of the organizers. He is one of the leading Republicans of this city, taking an active interest in the success and growth of his party. He was appointed United States Surveyor of Customs in 1889 by President Harrison and served for a term of four years. In 1876 he was elected a member of the City Council from the Fifth Ward and served for three years, proving an efficient and capable member of that body. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to the Odd Fellows' Society. His public and private life is alike above reproach and he manifests the same loyalty in days of peace as when he followed the Stars and Stripes on southern battlefields.