JACOB OHLER

OHLER, KIRCHNER, SELL, CRAMER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 10/10/2020 at 21:01:12

JACOB OHLER, of Donnellson, is successfully carrying on a livery business but recently established, but which in the course of a few months has increased to goodly proportions. Mr. Ohler is a fair representative of that energetic and persevering element which has aided so materially in the development of this section, and of which some of our best citizens are composed. He is a native of Bavaria, and was born Dec. 18, 1854. His father, George J. Ohler, was an enterprising German farmer who emigrated to the United States in 1868, with his family, consisting of three children – Adam, Fred and Jacob. They located in New York City, where the father soon became engaged as foreman in a distillery, which position he occupied for the succeeding twenty-one months, and then turned his face further westward. Crossing the Father of Waters with his family, he came into Lee County, and establishing himself in Franklin Center, remained there until his death, which occurred Dec. 10, 1873. The maiden name of the mother was Elizabeth Kirchner, and she departed this life in her native land, in 1857.

Soon after coming to this country, Jacob Ohler left the parental roof to earn his own living. He was an industrious and ambitious boy, willing to work at whatever his hands could find to do. The first three years he was employed on the farm of Mr. Fred Haffner, well known in this vicinity, and during the winter season attended school, by this means securing a good education, as he was naturally studious and fond of his books. He was married in Franklin Township, Oct. 22, 1876, to Miss Cora Sell, a native of his own country, born April 12, 1858. She came to the United States with her parents, Casper and Cora (Cramer) Sell, when a child four years of age, and they settled in Charleston, Lee County. Her parents are still living in Charleston Township on a farm. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ohler have been born two children – Emma S. and George C.

A part of the time since his marriage Mr. Ohler was successfully engaged in the wine and liquor trade, and has accumulated quite a comfortable property, which consists of his residence and six lots, one of which is devoted to his livery business, and equipped with stables and all the appliances necessary to the successful proseention of his calling. He keeps a fine assortment of horses and vehicles, and is bound to succeed. In politics he is a solid Democrat, with which party he uniformly casts his vote. In all respects he is a worthy citizen, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends.

Source:
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF LEE COUNTY, IOWA
CHICAGO: CHAPMAN BROTHERS, 1887

Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1887