Strobehn, Claus "William" & sons, Gustav & William T.

STROBEHN, TRAER, TRAUTT

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/19/2025 at 20:21:41

OUR LIFE 1882-1982
Akron, Iowa
Page 443 (no photos)

STROBEHN BROTHERS.
Among the well-known and substantial farmers of Lincoln township, Plymouth county, the Strobehn brothers, Gust and Will Strobehn were proprietors of a fine farm of 240 acres. The elder of these brothers was born in Iowa and the younger was born in South Dakota. Both were residents of Plymouth county since their childhood. They were the sons of William and Anna (Traer) Strobehn, natives of Germany, the former born in Holstein and the latter in Hamburg, whose last days were spent in Plymouth county.

In the days of young manhood William Strobehn was a sailor. For years he sailed the seven seas, becoming familiar with the important ports in all parts of the world. He married in Germany in 1869, came to the United States with his bride, and settled in Davenport, Iowa.

He rented a farm there and made his home for two or three years. He moved to Richland, Iowa, in Keokuk county, and for a year rented a farm in that vicinity, after which he moved to South Dakota and for five years rented the W. G. Wallace farm in the Alcester area in Union county, S.D.

In 1881, he moved back to Richland and lived there until 1883. He then came to Plymouth county and rented the farm which his sons later owned and spent the rest of his life there. He died in 1886. Anna (Traer) Strobehn died in 1909. They were the parents of three children, Gust, Bertha and Will.

Gust Strobehn was born on a farm near Davenport, Iowa, March 10, 1870, and received his schooling in the schools of Richland, Iowa and of Alcester, South Dakota. He also attended school after coming to Plymouth county. He grew to manhood on the home farm in Portland township and was the mainstay of the household after his father died in 1886.

After the death of their father, their mother renewed the rental of the farm on which they were living and Gust Strobehn, assisted by his younger brother, continued operating the farm until 1903, when they bought the farm of 240 acres. Gust Strobehn served as supervisor of road construction in his district for four years. He was a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Akron and owned a garage building at Chatsworth.

Will T. Strobehn was born on a farm in the Alcester vicinity, Union county, South Dakota, and was three years old when the family moved to Plymouth county. He received his schooling in the district school in Portland township, his first teacher having been Lessie Jeffers. From early boyhood he “made a hand” in the work on the farm, assisting his brother and their mother in its development. In 1903 he joined his brother in the purchase of the place.

In 1910 Will T. Strobehn was united in marriage to Frances Trautt and to this union four children were born: William, Florence, Agnes, and Leo. Will Strobehn took a good citizen’s interest in public affairs. He was a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Akron.