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Permanent LinkSenator William Groneweg View All Years
WILLIAM GRONEWEG was born in Lemforde, Province of Hanover, Germany, July 24, 1838, and died in Council Bluffs, Iowa, August 4, 1928. His parents were William H. and Caroline (Behning) Groneweg. After leaving school he served five years as an apprentice in mercantile business. In 1859 he made the journey to America alone. After stopping for a time with a brother in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later with another brother in St. Joseph, Missouri, he located in Council Bluffs in 1861. Here he borrowed money and engaged in the retail grocery business. In 1864 he was joined by L. Kirscht in a partnership, and the following winter he took an ox train load of provisions overland to Denver, Colorado. In 1878 he withdrew from the retail business and joined with John Schoetgen in the wholesale grocery business. They later incorporated, Mr. Groneweg becoming president of the corporation, and continuing as the active head until a few days before his death, the corporation in the meantime achieving marked success. Mr. Groneweg was active in public life, was a member of the County Board of Supervisors from 1869 to 1871, was city treasurer from 1872 to 1876, and was the Democratic candidate for auditor of state in 1876, but lost to Buren R. Sherman. He was a member of the local school board, and in 1886 was elected mayor of Council Bluffs, serving two years. In 1887 he was elected senator and was re-elected in 1891, serving in the Twenty-second, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, and Twenty-fifth general assemblies. He was a very useful man in his city in many other ways, and was held in high esteem.