Fred G. Droste, secretary of the Keiser-Niemeyer Mercantile Company
of Mount Olive and one of the best known business men of Macoupin
county, was born in Hanover, Germany, September 1, 1859. He is a son of
Frederick J. and Charlotte (Kroger) Droste, both of whom were born in
Hanover. The mother died in the old country about 1897, but the father
is still living at the age of eighty-six years, being remarkably well
preserved for one so far advanced in life. He devoted his attention to
farming during his active years and his son Ernest now is in charge of
the old home place.
Mr. Droste of this review was reared under
the parental roof and secured his preliminary education in the schools
of his native land. In 1880, after passing his twentieth year, he
emigrated to the United States with his brother H. H. They landed in New
York city and from that place traveled west to St. Louis, which they
reached on the 21st of April. There they met a brother, Henry, who had
preceded them to this country about ten years and was well established
in business. The two young men took up their residence with their elder
brother, and became students of the Mound City Commercial College, from
which they were graduated in April, 1881. After leaving this institution
Mr. Droste of this review entered the employ of the Mount Olive Coal
Company in St. Louis, of which C. J. Keiser of Mount Olive was
president. After a short time Mr. Droste was offered a position in the
Keiser-Niemeyer Company's store at Mount Olive, which he accepted, and
has ever since been a resident of this place. He served for two years as
bookkeeper and then, in 1883, associated with F. H. Reuter and purchased
the mercantile business of F. W. Hartke, which they conducted for two
years under the firm name of Droste & Reuter. In 1885 they disposed of
their business to the Keiser-Niemeyer Company, after which this company
was reorganized and incorporated as the Keiser-Niemeyer Mercantile
Company, of which Mr. Droste was a stockholder, being also elected
secretary of the new organization. He has ever since served in this
capacity. It is the largest mercantile establishment in Macoupin county
and a goodly share of its success may be attributed to the zeal and
ability of Mr. Droste. In addition to his interest in the mercantile
business he owns a beautiful farm of two hundred and twenty acres,
adjoining the town, upon which he makes his home. He specializes in
raising pure-bred Berkshire hogs and has just reason to take pride in
his herd, as it is one of the finest of the kind in this part of the
state. He also owns various properties in Mount Olive, among them being
the first house that was built in the town.
In 1883 Mr. Droste
was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Arkebauer, a native of Mount
Olive and a daughter of Meint Arkebauer, who was one of the pioneers of
Mount Olive. He laid out one of the first additions to the town and
about eighty acres of his original farm is now included within the
limits of Mount Olive. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Droste, eight of whom survive, namely: Hedwick, who is the wife of Rev.
H. Marting, of Downs, Kansas; Anna, who is a graduate of the Mount Olive
high school; Frieda and Otto, who also graduated from the Mount Olive
high school; Clara; Irwin; Alma, and Frederick. All of the children are
home except the eldest daughter. The mother of these children died May
24, 1908, and on the 7th of November, 1909, Mr. Droste was married to
Miss Sophia Remmert, a daughter of Henry Remmert. The father was among
the pioneers of Mount Olive and laid out an addition of forty acres to
the town. Politically Mr. Droste gives his adherence to the republican
party. He and his wife are valued members of the Lutheran church, of
which he is one of the trustees. He is greatly interested in education
and is giving all of his children the advantage of a high-school
training. He has just reason to be proud of the attainments of his
daughter Clara, who stood highest in examination of eighth grade pupils
in the county. The test was taken by two hundred and sixty pupils from
all parts of the county, her average being ninety-five and one-tenth per
cent. She was born March 26, 1896, and attended the parochial school of
the German Evangelical church in Mount Olive until about two years ago.
She then entered the seventh grade in the city school, and showed
remarkable aptitude during the remainder of her attendance at the public
schools, which covered eighteen months. A local paper said of her: “Miss
Droste is an accomplished little lady, a great reader, popular and
highly esteemed among all her friends and schoolmates, and modestly
bears the honor she has brought to Mount Olive as being the first from
that place to make the highest grade at the eighth-grade examination in
Macoupin county.”
Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 272-274.
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