No. 66.—Edward Kretchmer.
The subject of our sketch this week is another of the leading
bee-keepers whom we had the pleasure of meeting often during the
World's Fair last summer, and whom it was always a delight to see on
our weekly visits to the apiarian department in the "White City."
[Illustration: _E. KRETCHMER._]
The _Progressive Bee-Keeper_—the paper from which we take the
subjoined sketch—says this of our Iowa friend:
Mr. Kretchmer is one of the pioneers of Western apiculture, a
man of whom the bee-keeping fraternity may be proud, and one
who has received many honors, both from those of his calling,
and the public at large.
As mentioned on another page, it was Bro. Kretchmer who superintended
the Iowa honey exhibit at the World's Fair, and his successful efforts
are well attested by a glance at the illustration on page 104, and also
by the awards secured. Incidentally, we may say that he is one of the
largest manufacturers and dealers in bee-keepers' supplies west of the
"Mississippi creek."
As we doubtless could add nothing further of interest regarding Bro.
Kretchmer, we are glad to give the sketch referred to before, written
by his 12-year-old daughter, Valencia, who is not only a member of the
Iowa State Bee-Keepers' Association, but also of the North American.
Here is what she writes about "her papa"—and she ought to know him
pretty well:
Edward Kretchmer was born on the Atlantic ocean in 1844, on
the American merchant vessel, "Louisiana;" and though of
German parentage, he is an American by birth. He was brought
up in Selicia, Prussia. His father was one of the prominent
bee-keepers of his time, and the originator of the first
rolls that manufactured "mid-rib," or our earlier form of
comb foundation; which, by writers, is frequently confounded
with that of Mehring's, whose invention presented the edge
of a full thickness of comb, or the beginning of a top-bar.
Hence the German translation, "foundation."
Mr. Kretchmer resided about five miles from Dr. Dzierzon, the
world-renowned author and apiarist, and from whom, during
a season's stay, he received the first lessons in advanced
bee-culture. In 1858 he received a colony of Italian bees as
a birthday present, and since that time, with the exception
of three years, he has been a breeder of Italian bees.
He came to the United States, and to the State of Iowa, about
the year 1859, and in the summer of 1860 purchased the first
Italian queen that crossed the Mississippi river. In 1861 he
entered the army. During his absence, his father sold the
original colony to W. H. Furman, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the
owner of the Langstroth patent for that State.
After his discharge from the army, he again engaged in
bee-culture, and while a visitor at the Iowa State Fair, an
incident occurred which brought him to public notice, as a
well-informed bee-keeper. The incident referred to was this:
An oddly-dressed man, with bees in his hat, was selling
little vials of scented water as a "bee-charm," taking
dollars right and left, stating that with it bees were
rendered peaceable enough to open a hive without being
stung. Mr. Kretchmer remarked that he could do that
without the drug. The drug vender promptly challenged the
youthful-looking German, no doubt expecting him to "back
down" from his statement, but on the contrary Mr. K.
secured a little smoke, and promptly opened the colony of
bees of another exhibitor, quickly found the queen, and
exhibited the combs, covered with bees, to a multitude
of spectators, without a sting. He was, in consequence
thereof, requested by several to communicate his method
through some of the journals, and he soon became a noted
writer—writing both in the German and English language. In
the older files of the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, his name may
be found to numerous articles. He also issued "Winke Fur
Bienen Zuchter"—"Intimation to Bee-Keepers;" "The Amateur
Bee-Keepers' Guide," written in 1866, and "The Bee-Keepers'
Guide-Book," the latter, a neat volume of 256 pages, issued
in 1872.
In 1867 he removed from eastern Iowa to Coburg, Iowa, where
he was postmaster for eight years, mayor of the town, and for
two terms chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Montgomery
county; he declining a re-election, and also the nomination
for State Senator.
The demand for better shipping facilities induced him to
remove his entire factory to Red Oak in 1890, which is his
present residence.
He is a prominent Odd Fellow, and an enthusiastic Mason,
being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, as
well as of the Degree of Rebecca, and the Eastern Star, both
of which he is now the presiding officer.
On the recommendation of the President of the Iowa
Bee-Keepers' Association, he was appointed by the Iowa
Columbian Commission to take charge of the Iowa honey exhibit
at the World's Fair. This appointment he very reluctantly
accepted about the middle of last January, 1893, after which
time he labored for the success of that exhibit, without the
hope of fee or reward, although a very unfavorable honey
season made such an undertaking a difficult task. He is
now conducting various experiments with new implements in
bee-culture.