Herman Julius Zeuch

1867-1937

Herman Zeuch was born in 1867 in Davenport, Iowa. In 1889, he entered a wholesale grocery business in Davenport. In 1905, he became interested in development possibilities in northwest Canada and was one of the organizers of three large Canadian land development projects. He helped colonize 100,000 acres in Alberta and aided in establishing the town of Taber in Alberta.

As a young man, he attained distinction in commercial and financial circles throughout Iowa. He was involved in several Davenport businesses, including two banks and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

In the early 1900’s, Florida East Coast Railway brought land speculators from the mid-west to see this new frontier. Among them was Zeuch, who saw the possibilities of development in Florida.

Robert D. Carter

He came to Vero in 1909 and organized the Indian River Farms Company composed of mid-west businessmen. In 1911, they brought in a young engineer, Robert D. Carter (left), to assess the feasibility of developing, what was then, swampland. After Carter declared the land suitable, the company purchased 55,000 acres at 50 cents an acre. They hired Carter to plan the canal system and oversee draining the wetlands, making way for development. The final plat of the original ‘Town of Vero’ was adopted in 1913.

Zeuch later became President and Treasurer of the Indian River Farms Company and played an important role in designing Vero. “The Farms” was incorporated in 1919 to handle the property and maintain the canal system. That year, they elected the first Supervisors and approved a tax of 40 cents per acre within the drainage district.

Digging the canals near downtown Vero

The original plat of the town of Vero was planned by Zeuch and Judge J. E. Andrews who was originally from Ft. Pierce. The contract for the first building, the old Sleepy Eye Lodge, was let by Zeuch, who felled the first pine tree on the building site. The streets were all assigned Indian names, selected by Zeuch.

Mr. Zeuch financed the building of the Seminole block and with W. H. Christison built the Osceola building. Later they acquired the Orange Hotel. He was the owner of extensive citrus properties.

Seminole Avenue, now 14th Avenue

A staunch supporter of every worthwhile civic enterprise, Zeuch was affiliated with local organizations. He gave the first $100 to raise the funds to procure the local airport. He took pride in the progress of Vero Beach.

The name of the Indian River Farms Company was changed in 1972 to Indian River Farms Water Management District and in 1978 to Indian River Farms Water Control District. The District remains responsible for the maintenance of our county’s canal drainage system.

Herman Zeuch died in October 1937 in his beloved Vero Beach and was among the first to be buried at Crestlawn Cemetery. Descendants of the Zeuch family remain in Vero Beach, while the stately home he built in Davenport, Iowa, continues to stand as a reminder of his legacy.

Zeuch home in Davenport, Iowa