Morten C. Deering
One of the most alert, enterprising and progressive young
agriculturists of Post township is Morten C. Deering, who now
operated three hundred and thirty-six acres of fine land in this
vicinity, comprising the farm upon which he was born on the 2d of
October, 1880. He is a son of Charles and Caroline Deering
natives of Germany, the former born on the 12th of October, 1833,
and the latter in 1837. When he was about twenty-one years of age
the father crossed the Atlantic and after arriving in the United
States settled on the shores of Lake Superior, in Michigan, where
he engaged in burning charcoal until he came to Iowa about 1871.
In this state he purchased the farm in Post township, Allamakee
county, whereon his son now resides, finding it an unimproved and
wild tract, which he cleared of timber before he could begin the
work of development. This he carried forward, with characteristic
energy and determination developing a fine farm, upon which he
continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 20th
of September, 1912. He had survived his wife some years, her
death having occurred in July, 1902. In their family were five
children; Laura, the wife of Oliver Mackey, a farmer near
Odebolt, Iowa; Frank, who is an undertaker in Washington; Minnie,
the wife of Richard James, of Harvey, North Dakota; Hattie, who
married James Maloney, a farmer near Esmond, in the same state;
and Morten C., of this review.
The last named acquired his education in the Evergreen school
near his father’s farm and his childhood was spent upon the
homestead. From an early age he assisted with the farm work,
becoming thoroughly familiar with the best and most practical
agricultural methods, and at the age of seventeen he began his
independent career, working at farm labor in the employ of others
for some time. When he was twenty-one years of age he purchased
the homestead of two hundred and thirty-four acres, to which he
has since added from time to time, his holdings now comprising
three hundred and thirty-six acres. Upon this property he has
made substantial improvements, erecting new barns and
outbuildings and stock-raising and both branches of his
enterprise, being well conducted, are also profitable and
important. A progressive and enterprising young man, Mr. Deering
keeps in touch with the trend of modern advancement in
agricultural methods and ideas and his work has been important as
an element in the later farming development of his native
section.
On the 11th of October, 1903, Mr. Deering was united in marriage
to Miss Bertha Uhl, a native of Franklin township, born October
11, 1881. She is a daughter of John and Ann (Cleverley) Uhl, the
former a native of Brooklyn, New York, born March 22, 1854, and
the latter born in England, on the 21st of October, 1840. The
father acquired his education in the public schools of his native
city and after the death of his parents came in 1872 to Iowa,
where he worked as a farm hand for a short time. Later he
purchased property of his own in Post township and also a number
of acres across the line in Franklin township and upon this farm
he continued to reside for the remainder of his life, his death
occurring June 20, 1905. His wife survives him and makes her home
with the subject of this review. She had been previously married
and by her first union had four children: Adeline, deceased;
Fred; Gertie, and George. Mr. and Mrs. John Uhl had three
children: Stella, who married Perry Cook, a farmer in Post
township; Bertha, the wife of the subject of this review; and
Jesse, residing on the home farm in Post township. To the
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Deering have been born also three
children: Irving Charles, whose birth occurred on the 1st of
June, 1907; Dorothy Irene, born on the 10th of February, 1909;
and Esther Stella, born April 12, 1911. Mr. Deering is a member
of the Modern Brotherhood of America but his fraternal
affiliations are not extensive, his attention being centered upon
the development of his farm, which is one of the finest and best
managed in this vicinity.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index