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AUGUST WEHRMAN, actively engaged in the free and independent occupation that of recent years has proved so remunerative, August Wehrman, of Iowa township, materially assists in maintaining the reputation of Benton county as one of the most productive agricultural regions of the state, his well stocked and well managed farm being a credit to his industry and good judgment and an ornament to the community. One of the twelve children born to Hans and Emeline (Kaster) Wehrman, five of whom are now living, he was born in Hanover, Germany, September 28, 1849.
Hans Wehrman was born in Germany in 1805, and died in Iowa township, Benton county, Iowa, in 1865. He emigrated with his family to this country in 1851, and for nearly four years resided near Yorkville, Kendall county, Illinois, being employed in agricultural pursuits. In March, 1855, loading his family and his household goods in a box car, he started for Iowa. When near Peoria, Illinois, the car jumped the track, and his wife received injuries that caused her death. At Rock Island, Illinois, he loaded his goods in wagons and drove the remainder of the distance to Benton county. Taking up one hundred and sixty acres of land in Iowa township, on section 14, he built a log house, and was here engaged in mixed husbandry the remainder of his years. Further parental history may be found on another page of this work, in connection with the sketch of Henry Wehrman, a brother of August Wehrman.
But a year old when he was brought by his parents to the United States, August Wehrman remembered nothing of the ocean voyage or of the subsequent journey across the prairies from Illinois to Iowa. He remained in Iowa township until eight years of age, when he was sent back to Kendall county, Illinois, where he lived a number of years with an uncle, attending school and assisting on the farm. In 1868, ready to begin the battle of life for himself, he rented land in Illinois, and carried on general farming for two years. Returning in 1870 to Iowa township, Mr. Wehrman assumed charge of the parental homestead, and has since been prosperously employed in tilling the soil. He owns two hundred and ninety acres of fine land, on which he has practically made all of the improvements, A skilful and progressive agriculturist, systematic and thorough in his methods, Mr. Wehrman takes advantage of the more modern ways of producing crops, and is meeting with eminent success in his operations. He is a representative man in every respect, well versed in current events, and takes a warm interest in local affairs. He has rendered excellent service as school director; as assessor; as treasurer of Iowa township, a position that he held eight years; and in other offices of minor importance. He is a director of the Luzerne Savings Bank, and since 1877 has been connected with the Iowa Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which he has served as vice president and treasurer. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and a valued member of the German Lutheran church.
Mr. Wehrman married first, January 19, 1869, Caroline Ebrecht, who was born in Germany, and died in 1883, at the age of thirty-five years. She bore him six children, five of whom are living, as follows: Mary, wife of August Steinf ort, of Leroy township; August, of Mississippi; Henry J., of Iowa township; Rosa, wife of Henry Janke, of Iowa Township; and Emma, living at home. Mr. Wehrman married for his second wife, September 20, 1885, Charlotte Pettier, who was born, June 26, 1863, in Prussia, Germany, and came to the United States in 1879. Three children have been born of this union, namely: William, Edward and Annie.
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