This part of the site is based on historical documents found on the Internet with information about the town, Thomas Drustrup emigrated to. Through these 3 bits of information related to the Myrtue family, a short sketch of Council Bluffs and the danish community at that time is drawn. I am not aware of any old letters or other documents related to the Drustrup Family, but is very interested to know if anyone has any.

Søren Jensen Myrtue

Soren Jensen Myrtue, architect and building contractor, occupies a prominent position in business circles of the city and his success is the public acknowledgment of his skill and ability in his chosen field of labor. He was born at Wester Hjermitslev, in the extreme northern part of Denmark. His father, Jens C. Sorensen Myrtue, born in the same place, September 13, 1826, still lives in his native country and has devoted his life to farming. The mother, Karen Marie (Jensen) Myrtue, was born at Wester Hjermitslev, June 23, 1832, and died in that country in June, 1881.

In the public schools of his native country Soren J. Myrtue pursued his preliminary education and afterward took a three years' course in a technical school in Denmark, completing courses in architecture and construction, thus becoming well trained for his life work. Coming to America he settled in Council Bluffs, February 12, 1890, and turned his attention to the business in which he is now engaged. He is widely known and has gained a most enviable reputation as an architect and contracting builder, and since 1894 he has been associated with his brother, J. J. Myrtue, their place of business being No. 30 South Fourth street. They employ on an average twenty men, with a payroll of three hundred and fifty dollars a week, their business having constantly increased in volume and importance until it is scarcely equalled by any in their line in the city. Many of the fine structures of the city are monuments to their skill and handiwork, and the firm bears an unassailable reputation for fidelity and reliability.

On the 22d of July, 1904, Mr. Myrtue was united in marriage to Miss Ella Smith, of Council Bluffs, who was born near Macomb, Illinois, in 1867. Her father died when she was quite young and her mother died in Council Bluffs, in September, 1906. Both Mr. and Mrs. Myrtue have a wide acquaintance and the friendship of many with whom they have been brought in contact. He is a member of the Danish Brotherhood and is a stockholder in the building owned by that society. He lives at No. 384 Harrison street, where he owns a pleasant residence, and in addition to his business property he has an interest in several properties elsewhere in the city, from which he derives a good income. Throughout his life he has made good use of his opportunities, seeking in the field of unremitting diligence the chance for advancement, and his business rectitude, combined with his technical skill and practical methods, has, brought him a goodly measure of prosperity.

Source: http://freepages.books.rootsweb.com/~cooverfamily/pottawattamie_2/pot_2_20.htm

Prominent among the business men of Council Bluffs is the firm of Myrtue Brothers, contracting partners. In this connection John J. Myrtue has made a creditable record. A young man, possessing the enterprising spirit of the west, he became a factor in industrial circles and, brooking no obstacle that honest effort can overcome, he has steadily worked his way upward until, having long since left the ranks of the many, he stands today among the successful few.

He was born in Denmark, on the 2d of May, 1864, and landed in New York city on the twentieth anniversary of his birth. He had been educated in the public schools of his native country, and the favorable reports which he heard concerning America and its business opportunities led him to seek his fortune in the new world. He did not tarry in the east but made his way at once into the interior of the country, stopping at Harlan, Shelby county, Iowa. He had previously learned the carpenter's trade in Denmark and on reaching his destination he made a change of his avocation, turning his attention to agricultural pursuits. Two years were thus passed and in 1886 he came to Council Bluffs, where he resumed work at his trade, being in the employ of others until 1890, when he began business on his own account. In that year his brother, Soren J. Myrtue, came to the United States and entered his employ and in 1897 the present partnership of Myrtue Brothers was formed. Since he began general contracting Mr. Myrtue has enjoyed a constantly increasing patronage, as he has demonstrated his ability as a builder and his fidelity in executing the terms of a contract. His close application to business and his excellent management have brought him a degree of prosperity which is today his and at all times his business record has been characterized by an unbending integrity, unabating energy and unfaltering industry.

Mr. Myrtue was married in Council Bluffs, in 1898, to Miss Julia A. Mickelson, a daughter of Nels Mickelson, and they now have two daughters, Marie J. and Doris H. Mr. Myrtue belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Dannebo Society and issues are involved casts his ballot for the men and measures of democracy. In an analyzation of the character and life work of Mr. Myrtue we note many of the characteristics which have marked the Danish nation for many centuries-the perseverance, reliability, energy and unconquerable determination to pursue a course that has been marked out. It is these sterling qualities which have gained him success in life and made him one of the valuable and substantial citizens of Council Bluffs.

The following letter (an excerpt) was written by Emmett Soren Wilson before he died in 1991.Emmett Soren Wilson was born April 15,1912 - the day the ship Titanic sunk, and his father immigrated to the United States of America.

My father was a coal dealer in Council Bluffs. For business reasons, my father went by the name of Wilson.

To get on, Uncle Willis gravitated to Council Bluffs, Iowa. My father did too. There was a large Denmark community in Council Bluffs, in fact one portion was known as 'Little Copenhagen'. Many jokes and sayings about Danes in Council Bluffs. One comes to mind. - "The Danes raise big families and they're still at it." Not getting into how or when my father and Uncle Willis met their mates.

I must describe Council Bluffs, Iowa to you. Two thirds of Council Bluffs is on the river bottom. The hill district is in the eastern portion of Council Bluffs. When I say hills, we've got some dandies. The younger folks -- that includes myself -- have no idea how much 'fill' was taken from the hills and placed in the 'bottoms'. For instance, the home we live in today has been 'raised' three times. I talked to Ole Rassmusen, a Danish pioneer in Council Bluffs. Ole Rassmusen told me about a house he built in the 700 block of south 8th.street. That is 2 1/2 blocks from our home. Ole Rassmusen said that he built the house to city specifications for 'grades'. He built or erected the house with a 14 foot triple basement before building the house. Ole Rassmusen said people laughed and kidded him about it sitting 14 feet in the air. Rassmusen told me when the street was brought up to grade -- filled -- as specified by the city, there is only about 2 feet showing to the base of the house. About 6 blocks south of this is the Rock Island railroad yards. You should see the size of the yards. There were tracks (switches) where the trains were made-up, storage tracks, interchange tracks (i.e. tracks to other railroads) and tracks to Omaha, Nebraska. What I mean to tell you is it was a sizable railroad yard.

I bring this in because my father Soren Peter Wilson and his brother Willads Willadson took the contract to 'fill' the Rock Island Railroad yard. Dad told me of the equipment used -- contractor dump wagons -- scrapers, etc. The teams of horses, mules, etc. Not saying they owned it all. Dad told me of the number of men hired -- the number of teams -- I suppose some subcontracting. How I wish I had written it down or that we had recorders, etc. We have to be proud of Dad and Uncle Willis. They got money from owners and real estate developers to grade lots and open roads or streets or for taking the dirt out. They got money for the fill in the yards (R.I.R.R.). Dad and Uncle Willis got the R.I.R.R. yards to grade fill. They tried every which way to get the Civil Engineering Dept. of the R.I.R.R. to approve the project for final payment. However, the Civil Engineering Dept. knew what they were doing and waited a month before inspecting the project. Meanwhile the 'fill' settled and Dad and Uncle Willis had to put in another foot of 'fill'. Anyhow, Dad and Uncle Willis made a fist full of money out of the project in a time when a dollar was a dollar. My Dad was a coal dealer in Council Bluffs for over 50 years. For years he had a pair of mastodon bones dug from the hills in the project exhibited on his dock at the coal office. Dad finally donated the bones to the Council Bluffs Public Library.

Uncle Willis was a prominent and popular member of the Danish community in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He farmed in and near Council Bluffs. Many of the Danes would follow him and settle nearby. The facts I set out are what I have heard from my Mother, Father and relatives. I feel that they should be of record.

Respectfully
Emmett S. Wilson