Charles August Ficke
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Charles August Ficke | |
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| Born | 1850 Boitzenburg, Kingdom of Prussia |
| Died | 1931 (aged 80–81) Davenport, Iowa, US |
| Spouse | Fannie Davison |
| Children | Arthur Davison Ficke, Alice Ficke Simonsen, and Helene Ficke Watzek |
Charles A. Ficke (1850-1931) was a Kingdom of Prussia-born American lawyer, politician, author, and art collector. He served two terms as the mayor of Davenport, Iowa. Ficke made significant contributions to a number of cultural institutions in Iowa during his life and after his death. He was the father of poet and artist Arthur Davison Ficke.[1]
Charles A. Ficke was born in Boitzenburg, Kingdom of Prussia on April 21, 1850. His parents, along with their eight children, emigrated to Scott County, Iowa when he was two years old. His parents were successful farmers throughout the late 19th century.
In the 1860s, Charles Ficke began working his way through various business positions in Davenport. He worked as a salesman, in insurance, and eventually as a lawyer. He became active in the Scott County Republican Party and gained popularity among the many other German American emigrants in the area. Charles Ficke married Fannie Davison in 1882. Their children include Arthur Davison Ficke, Alice Ficke Simonsen, and Helene Ficke Watzek.
As he gained business and political success, Ficke began collecting art. In 1890, he was elected to the first of his two terms as mayor of Davenport, Iowa. He was also the president of the Davenport Turner Society around this time.[2][3]
