HENRY BIERKAMP (1903) is the proprietor
of Luverne's up-to-date automobile
livery and garage known as the Home Automobile
company and a dealer in several
of the leading makes of machines and gasoline
engines. He is a native of Hanover,
Germany, and was born January 4, 1853,
coming to this country fourteen years later.
He first located with his parents in Scott
county, Iowa, where he was educated and
assisted with the work on his father's farm
until after his twenty-third birthday. He
then married and for three years farmed
on his own account. He then established
himself in the implement, grain and stock
business in Stockton, Iowa, which proved
to be a successful venture, as has everything
else that Mr. Bierkamp has attempted.
He still owns the business at Stockton,
which is managed by a son. For seven years,
commencing in 1896, our subject farmed in
Muscatine county, Iowa, after which he
disposed of the farm, for which he had paid
$50 an acre, at a clear profit of 100 per cent. .
Nineteen hundred three is the date of his
advent to Rock county. He bought a farm
in Springwater township, on section 27, for
which he paid $50 an acre. Since moving
to Luverne in- April, 1909, and engaging in
his present line of business with his son
Otto, his farm has been managed by a tenant.
H. Bierkamp & Son have done a prosperous
automobile business, selling during
the first season a total of thirty-five new and
five old machines and during the second
year sixty cars. They handle the Buick,
Ford and Regal cars. In 1910 they erected
a handsome two-story pressed brick building
to accommodate their growing business.
While a resident of Scott county, Iowa,
on February 11, 1875, Sophia Claus, a native
of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, became
the wife of Henry Bierkamp. To
these parents have been born three sons
and six daughters, all but three of whom
are married. The names of (the children
are as follows: Henry F., Otto, John, Ida,
Sophia, Laura, Matilda, Malinda and Louise.
Mr. Bierkamp is a member of the city
council. While a resident of Stockton, Iowa,
he held many offices of trust and was the
leading merchant of the place and a leader
in the civic and social affairs of the town.
He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. lodge and
of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Bierkamp
is a large property holder. He is the
owner of 740 acres of fine land, divided as
follows: a half section in Springwater
township, a quarter section in Beaver Creek
township and 260 acres in Nobles county.
In Luverne he owns the substantial building
which houses his business, the adjoining
livery stable property and three residences
besides his own handsome dwelling.

Source:
An Illustrated History of the Counties of ROCK and PIPESTONE Minnesota

By ARTHUR P. ROSE
MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL Society
Author of the Histories of
NOBLES COUNTY
JACKSON COUNTY, ETC
NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING Company
LUVERNE, MINNESOTA
Publishers 1911

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