August Switzer is a man well-known to the people, not only of East Dubuque, but to every one in that region. He may be justly called the father of all the public improvements made in the city; his most noticeable achievement being the obtaining of the permit from Congress to build the wagon-bridge across the river at this point—a work which has been of incalculable nenefit to property on both sides. He was born near Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Feb. 16, 1821, and came with his parents to this country, landing at Baltimore, Md., Oct. 23, 1832. The family remained there a year, when they removed to Harrisburg, Pa., and a year later to St. Louis, Mo. In the latter place our subject was engaged in the dry-goods business until 1842, in which year his store and all his personal property was destroyed by fire. He then removed to Galena, Ill., arriving there Nov. 13, 1842. and again embarked in business, which he carried on until 1854. He entered land in 1843, and developed a fine farm in Menominee Township, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., to which he removed in 1854, on account of the condition of his wife’s health. In 1860 he removed to Dunleith, now East Dubuque, and once more embarked in mercantile pursuits, starting in the house in which he yet carries on business, which he had built in 1856 for that purpose.

February 17, 1842, in St. Louis, Mr. Switzer was married to Mrs. Margaret (Dornan) Harrison, who, by her first marriage, had had one child; now Mrs. Mary Campbell, wife of Dr. Campbell, of East Dubuque. Mrs. Margaret Switzer died in 1872, at the age of seventy-two years, and in 1873 Mr. Switzer was married to Mrs. Anna (Kroll) Gertenbach, widow of Henry Gertenbach, and mother of a son, Henry, who is now married and father of a son, whose name is Henry Switzer Gertenbach.

As heretofore indicated, the public services of Mr. Switzer have been many and valuable. He has filled many public positions, and accomplished much good in the community. While a resident of Galena he filled the office of School Director, and on removing to Dunleith was active in procuring the incorporation of the place as a village, and afterward in procuring its incorporation as a city. He was Trustee of the village for four years, and of the town for five years, and was the first Mayor of the city of Dunleith, and was several times re-elected. He was the first and last Mayor of the city of Dunleith, and the first Mayor of the city of East Dubnque—after the change of name. In this latter capacity he has served nine years. He was also Justice of the Peace for twelve years, and Supervisor from 1860 to 1867. During all this long service he has been devoted to the public interest, to which he has given a large share of his time, energy, and means.

While Mayor many public improvements were made, in all of which he took an active part, and of many of which he was the chief promoter and advocate. During this time the streets of the city were first macadamized. In 1866 the public market house, which has been a great public convenience, was built; he was an ardent advocate of the water works, which are a public boon, and are excellently built and conducted. The reservoir is 144 feet above the level of Main street, and is filled by means of a steam pump, with water from an artesian well. He was the means also of procuring from the Dunleith Land Company a donation of 1,000 feet of land on the river front for a levee. His most important achievement, however, was in company with others, the procuring from the general Government permission to bridge the Mississippi at this point. The writer has examined the documentary evidence proving that Mr. Switzer, Dr. Quigley, and Gen. George Jones were the instigators and active workers in obtaining the permission to build a wagon-bridge across the river within 300 feet of the bridge of the Illinois Central Railroad, and the present bridge is the result of the movement. In fact, whenever a public benefit was to be secured, he was by common consent looked to as a leader, and no public enterprise was achieved without his active and hearty co-operation. He has been truly a public benefactor, and the city of East Dubuque, as well as its predecessor, owes him a large debt of gratitude for his public spirit and enterprise.

As heretofore mentioned, during the late Civil War, our subject was Supervisor of the town, and mainly to his exertions is due the fact that money enough was raised to exempt the town from the operations of the various drafts. The quotas were filled at a cost to the people of the town of $9,500.

Mr. Switzer is at present the owner of a fine farm of 480 acres on section 28, and 320 acres in Menominee Township, adjoining the corporation limits of East Dubuque, being the land on which DuBois located in the early settlement of this section of the country, and where stood the cabin which he occupied, which afterward became the first school-house in this part of the territory. He is also the owner of a store, and the residence property in which he lives, in East Dubuque.

In every station of life our subject has discharged his duties with zeal and fidelity, and the county of Jo Daviess possesses no better citizen than August Switzer.

From Portraits and Biographical Pg 358