marriage: 7 Jan 1877 Waverly, Bremer, Iowa
spouse: Maggie A. Mooney

Henry Cretzmeyer, who has lived practically at Waverly since 1895, was for a number of years successfully identified with industrial interests here as a manufacturer of brick. The period of his residence in Bremer county covers more than six decades and he still lives on the old homestead where his parents took up their abode in 1852. His birth occurred at Hudson, New York, on the 16th of January, 1848, his parents being Wendolin and Catherine (Ludwick) Cretzmeyer, natives of Baden, Germany. The father was a weaver by trade and worked at that occupation in Germany. In 1847 he brought his family to the United States, locating at Hudson, New York, where he secured employment. In 1852 he came west to Iowa and settled on the site where the city of Waverly now stands. He became the owner of ten acres of land, all of which is now inside the city limits, and thereon spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1857.
Henry Cretzmeyer, the youngest in a family of three children, acquired his education by attendance at the schools of Waverly. When but fourteen years of age he began learning the trade of brick making, which occupation claimed his attention throughout his entire business career. In 1870, in association with his two brothers, he embarked in business as a brick manufacturer, the firm being known as Cretzmeyer Brothers and existing until 1890. In that year he purchased the interest of his brothers and conducted the enterprise independently until 1895, since which time he has lived practically retired, spending his declining years in well earned rest. He still resides on the old homestead, which comprises ten acres of ground that he devotes to farming on a small scale, keeping two cows and a number of chickens and hogs. He likewise owns some valuable residence property in Waverly and is a stockholder in the Waverly Saving Bank.
On the 7th of January, 1877, Mr. Cretzmeyer was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret A. Mooney, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on the 7th of August, 1855, her parents being Hugh and Mary (McCambridge) Mooney, natives of Ireland. In 1865 they took up their abode in Waverly, Iowa, where Mr. Mooney worked at the blacksmith's trade. Subsequently he settled on a farm near Waverly, whereon his wife passed away in 1894. The family home was afterward established in Minnesota and in that state Hugh Mooney died in 1901. Mrs. Cretzmeyer was the second in order of birth in a family of ten children, as follows: Charles Henry, a practicing physician and surgeon of Algona, Iowa; Mary Genevieve, who is the second lady who has ever been honored with the position of superintendent of schools in Bremer county, being elected to that office in the fall of 1910; Francis Xavier, a physician and surgeon residing at Emmetsburg, Iowa; Rose Eleanor, who resides at home and conducts a successful millinery establishment in Waverly; John William, a professor in St. Joseph's College of Dubuque; Charlotte Ann, who is a Sister of Mercy in the convent at Independence, Iowa; one who died in infancy; Annette, who is with her brother at Algona; Margaret Marian, a teacher in the rural schools of this county; and Joseph Wendolin, who graduated from the Waverly high school with the class of 1913.
Mr. Cretzmeyer is a democrat in his political views and supports that party on questions of national importance but casts an independent ballot at local elections. For two terms, from 1886 until 1890, he served as councilman, making a creditable record in that connection. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church, of which he is a devout communicant. Bremer county has been his home throughout almost his entire life and he has long been numbered among its substantial, esteemed and representative citizens.
[History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914]

Census 1900 Waverly Township Waverly city Ward 1, 4-5, Bremer, Iowa
Age: 52
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Years Married: 23
Birth Date: Jan 1848
Birthplace: New York
Marriage Year (Estimated): 1877
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Head Henry Cretzmeyer M 52 New York
Wife Margaret A Cretzmeyer F 46 Maryland
Son Charles H Cretzmeyer M 22 Iowa
Dau Mary G Cretzmeyer F 20 Iowa
Son Francis Cretzmeyer M 18 Iowa
Dau Rose E Cretzmeyer F 16 Iowa
Son John W Cretzmeyer M 15 Iowa
Dau Charlotte Cretzmeyer F 13 Iowa
Dau Annetta Cretzmeyer F 11 Iowa
Dau Margaret Cretzmeyer F 8 Iowa
Son Joseph Cretzmeyer M 5 Iowa

Iowa State Census, 1885 Waverly, Washington, Bremer, Iowa
Henry Cretzmeyer 37
Margaret A Cretzmeyer 32
Charles H Cretzmeyer 10
Mary G Cretzmeyer 4
Frances H Cretzmeyer 2
Rose E Cretzmeyer 1
John W Cretzmeyer 0