Born in the duchy of Nassau, Germany, January 13, 1831, and there received the thorough training that fitted him for his later successes in business and public life. Enthusiasm for knowledge and learning carried him through the public and high schools with credit, and gave him an education well-grounded and fully rounded, and as a provision against unforeseen circumstances he learned the trade .of stonemason. He is the son of Philip and Katherine (Tresbach) Doerr. The family came to America in March, 1851, stopping in New York, and in the autumn of that year removed to Vermont. Coming to Fort Madison in 1855, Charles Doerr, in partnership with his father, began the business of building railroad bridges, which they carried on extensively and with success for two years. Then in March, 1857, he forsook the hammer for the pen, and became a copyist, doing this work at the court house until 1860, when he was appointed deputy county clerk. Two years later, in recognition of his talents, integrity and ability, he was elected by the Democratic party as county clerk of Lee county, and in 1864 was re-elected to the same office, but was "counted out" by a technicality. In June, 1866, he was reappointed county clerk, and this was followed, in the fall of the same year, by another reelection to the office, and this, in turn, by a repetition of the honor in 1868. On the expiration of his term as county clerk he purchased, in 1871, a ferry line across the Mississippi river, which he operated for six years, when he sold it and entered the real estate business. He was not permitted, however, to remain in political retirement, and in 1884 was called to represent Lee County in the legislature, serving through the Twentieth General Assembly of Iowa with distinction. Further honors awaited him, and in 1885 he was appointed by President Cleveland postmaster of Fort Madison. His other public trusts include the office of justice of the peace, to which he was elected in 1895, and which he still holds, and his membership in the school board for a period of twelve years. In addition he is probably the oldest notary public in the State of Iowa, having acted in this capacity continuously since 1858. Mr. Doerr was married at Fort Madison on August 20, 1857, to Miss Katherine Magerkurth, who was born at Kindenheim, Rhenish Bavaria, April 30, 1837. Mr. Doerr, in his fraternal relations, is a member of the Blue Lodge, the Chapter, the Commandery and the Mystic Shrine of the Masonic order, and has been an Odd Fellow since May 6, 1854. In his religious faith he is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
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