Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

From a humble beginning Jacob Enemark has worked his way upward in the business world until today he owns a valuable farm property of one hundred and twenty acres situated on section 30, Nokomis township, and is considered one of the progressive and wide-awake farmers and stock-raisers of this section of Buena Vista county.  He was born in Schleswig, Germany, March 10, 1866, the second in order of birth in a family of three sons and one daughter, born of the marriage of Erasmus and Johanna (Timmerman) Enemark, the former a contractor and builder in his native land.

Jacob Enemark was given the advantages of a common-school education and spent the period of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof.  He had read of the advantages to be enjoyed in America, and desiring to make his home in whatever country offered the best inducements for advancement to the ambitious young man, decided to emigrate to the United States.  Accordingly, at the early age of eighteen years, he bade adieu to friends and native land and set sail for the new world.  He at once made his way to Alta, Iowa, where for three years he was employed at farm labor.  This, however, he resolved should be but a starting point for his future success and by economy and hard labor during this term he managed to save a sum of money that enabled him to purchase land and he became the owner of eighty acres.  He improved this tract with a good house and substantial outbuildings and also set out an orchard.  He then began active work in the cultivation of his land and each year harvested good crops, which brought him the capital that eventually enabled him to add to his original purchase forty acres adjoining so that his farm now embraces one hundred and twenty acres.  In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also gives much of his attention to the raising of stock.  He keeps good horses, cattle and Poland China hogs.  He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator and in the creamery at Alta.

Mr. Enemark was married in December, 1887, to Miss Electa Sherman, a native of La Salle county, Illinois, and a daughter of Henry Sherman.  Their union has been blessed with two children, Ethel and Frank, both in school.  Mr. Enemark is an independent republican, and while he is interested in the welfare of his country and his home locality he has never been active as an office seeker.  He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Yeomen of Alta.  He deserves great credit for what he has accomplished in the business world, for he came to this country as a stranger, and through his own well directed efforts has attained to his present position—that of one of the substantial farmers and stock-raisers of Buena Vista county and Nokomis township.