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Permanent LinkRepresentative Bernard J. Horchem View All Years
BERNARD JOHN HORCHEM was born in Dubuque, Iowa, December 4, 1866, and died in Vera Cruz, Mexico, July 23, 1932. Burial was at Vera Cruz. His parents were John C. and Henrietta (Plaster) Horchem. In 1884 he was graduated from the Dyersville schools. He taught country schools in Delaware County two years, beginning in 1886. In 1888-89 he took a course in the Cedar Rapids Business College. In 1892 he was graduated from the Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana. Then followed two years as principal of the Dyersville High School, after which he was elected superintendent of schools of Dubuque County and filled that office four years, 1894 to 1898. He was re-elected for a third term, but resigned to accept the principalship of the Audubon School in Dubuque, which position he held thirty years, or until 1928. From time to time he further pursued his studies in psychology and sociology in Chicago University and in Columbia University, New York. He was much interested in wild life and nature studies, and for some years operated “Park Life” at Dubuque by which he kept boys wholesomely and voluntarily employed during summer vacations. He rendered valuable social service to his community. Religiously he was an adherent of the Catholic church. He served for twelve consecutive years as a state legislator, being first elected representative in 1914. He was re-elected representative in 1916, and in 1918 was promoted to the Senate serving altogether in the two houses inclusively from the Thirty-sixth to the Forty-first General Assembly.