Born in Germany, July 26, 1831, and was a son of Charles and Johanna (Leonard) Mentzel, of German nativity. Charles emigrated to America in 1853, and spent the first of his residence in this county in Chicago, Ill. From there he came to Clayton County, and worked at the mason's trade in Garnavillo four years, then purchased a farm in sections 10 and 11, Cox Creek Township. It consists of 160 acres of fertile land well improved, and is one of the finest farms in the great grain-producing State of Iowa. Mr. Mentzel was married in 1855, to Dinah Zahrndt. Since his residence here Mr. Mentzel has shown himself eminently fitted to hold public positions of honor and trust, and has served in nearly all the township offices. He represented his district two years in the Legislature, and was Secretary of the Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Communia, Iowa. He was active in politics, and has given the Republican party his support. He is a member of A. O. U. W. lodge at Elkader.

Born in Germany, July 26, 1831, and was a son of Charles and Johanna (Leonard) Mentzel, of German nativity. Charles emigrated to America in 1853, and spent the first of his residence in this county in Chicago, Ill. From there he came to Clayton County, and worked at the mason's trade in Garnavillo four years, then purchased a farm in sections 10 and 11, Cox Creek Township. It consists of 160 acres of fertile land well improved, and is one of the finest farms in the great grain-producing State of Iowa. Mr. Mentzel was married in 1855, to Dinah Zahrndt. Since his residence here Mr. Mentzel has shown himself eminently fitted to hold public positions of honor and trust, and has served in nearly all the township offices. He represented his district two years in the Legislature, and was Secretary of the Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Communia, Iowa. He was active in politics, and has given the Republican party his support. He is a member of A. O. U. W. lodge at Elkader.