C. P. Nierling
A native of Allamakee county, C. P. Nierling was born on
December 16, 1867, upon the farm of two hundred and ten acres on
sections 27, 28 and 33, French Creek township, which he now owns.
He is one of the substantial agriculturists of his locality, and
what he has achieved is largely due to his progressive methods
and the industry and energy, which he has expended in the
development of the property. His father was Anton Nierling, a
native of Germany, who with his parents emigrated to America as a
young man, after having served three years in the German army. He
was born on the river Rhine in 1826, and after his arrival in
America, in about the year 1849, located in Lansing, where he
lived for three years, after which he settled on Lansing Ridge,
going two years later to French Creek township. He was a miller
by trade and followed that occupation in the fatherland for
several years, but upon coming to Iowa took up agricultural
labors. Acquiring title to a tract of wild land of two hundred
and sixty acres, he settled thereon, devoting his energies to
clearing the land, breaking the soil and placing his acres under
cultivation. He erected substantial buildings upon his land and
continued in his pursuits with ever increasing success until his
death, which occurred upon his farm in 1888, at the age of
sixty-two years. He married in Lansing, Iowa, Miss Mary Anna
Buck, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, who survived him for a
number of years, passing away in Waukon, in 1902, at the age of
sixty-eight years. In their family were ten children: J.J., of
Jamestown, North Dakota; Mrs. M. Tillmony, of Ledyard, Iowa; Mrs.
L.T. Tillmony, of Wells, Minnesota; Carrie M., of Ledyard, Iowa;
Mrs. W. H. Kerndt, of Allamakee county; Herman, who died at the
age of seven years; C.P., our subject; H. G., of Jamestown, North
Dakota; A. T., a prominent banker and business man of Waukon, of
whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work; and W. F.,
of Algona, Iowa.
C.P. Nierling was reared under the parental roof and in the
acquirement of his education attended the schools of the
neighborhood. He early began to assist his father in the work of
the home farm, acquiring through methods of operation, and ten
years after the father's death acquired the interests of the
other heirs and now owns two hundred and ten acres of well
improved land. The buildings are modern and up-to-date and
perfectly suited for their purpose, while he has installed the
most modern machinery in order to facilitate labor and improve
the yield of his crops. As the years have passed Mr. Nierling has
become recognized as one of the most substantial agriculturists
of his district, and his success is well merited, as it is the
outcome of close application, augmented by progressive methods.
Mr. Nierling was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Keffler, a
native of Allamakee county, by whom he had two children, Irene
and Meta. After the death of his first wife he married Miss
Melinda Smith, and of this union were born seven children: Anton,
Myrtle, Viola, Carlton, George, Leona and Arthur. Mr. And Mrs.
Nierling are members of the Catholic church, to which they give
their helpful support, and in his political faith he is a
democrat. He has served for four years as township assessor and
for one year as a trustee, discharging his duties in a most
satisfactory manner. Highly respected and esteemed, Mr. Nierling
enjoys the good-will and confidence of his friends and neighbors
for what he has accomplished and also on account of those
qualities of mind and character, which have made possible his
success.
-transcribed by Jan Miller
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