| Among the farmers of Shelby
County, Iowa,
who believe in following twentieth century methods is John F. Maassen
of Lincoln Township. He comes of a splendid family, one that has always
been strong for right living and industrious habits, for education and
morality, and for all that contributes to the welfare of the
commonwealth. Such people are welcomed in any community, for they are
empire builders and as such have pushed the frontier of civilization
ever westward and onward, leaving the green, wide-reaching wilderness
and the far-stretching plains populous with contented people and
beautiful with green fields; they have constituted that sterling horde
which caused the great Bishop Whipple to write the memorable line,
"Westward the course of empire takes its way."
John F. Maassen, a prosperous farmer of
Lincoln
Township, was born on November 1, 1868, in Rock Island County,
Illinois, and is the son of Reimer and Mary (Myers) Maassen, his father
being born in Germany in 1846 and his mother in the same country in
1850. Reimer Maassen came to this country in 1863 and settled in
Illinois, where he first worked as a farm hand and later found
employment in a paper mill. In 1878, he brought his family to Scott
County, Iowa, where he farmed for six years, and then settled in Shelby
County and purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land in Fairview
Township. He was a progressive farmer, improved his land and added to
it from time to time until at the date of his death he was the owner of
four hundred and eighty acres of excellent farming land in Fairview
Township and two hundred acres in Lincoln Township. His widow died in
1910 and both of them are now buried at Avoca, Iowa. To Reimer Maassen
and wife were born twelve children, seven of whom are still living.
John F. Maassen was ten years of age when his
parents left Rock Island County, Illinois, and came to Scott County,
Iowa, and consequently received part of his education in Illinois and a
part of it in this state. Owing to the fact that his father had such a
large amount of land, he remained upon the home farm until he was
thirty years of age, assisting his father until a few years before his
death, and then assuming the management of the home place until his
marriage in 1899. After his marriage, he rented land from his father
until 1908, and then bought two hundred acres in Lincoln Township,
which was part of the family estate. He has improved his farm with all
the modern conveniences, having his home lighted with gas and heated
with a furnace. He has erected a fine country home at a cost of four
thousand dollars and equipped it with all the latest conveniences and
improvements. Mr. Maassen is one of those sterling German farmers who
take an interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his
community. He is a man who has the courage of his convictions upon the
issues of the day. In 1913 he had seventy acres of corn, which yielded
him about forty-five bushels to the acre, a low average, due to the dry
season.
Mr. Maassen was married in 1899 to Sophia
Paustian
who was a native of Cedar County, Iowa, her birth having occurred there
in 1874, and to this union have been born three children who are living
with their parents, Lillie, Reimer and Edna.
In politics, Mr. Maassen has supported the
policies of the Democratic party, but has never held any public office
other than that of township trustee, a position which he is holding at
the present time. He and his family are earnest members of the German
Lutheran Church, are very much interested in its welfare and to its
various activities contribute generously of their means. By his
persistent advocacy of wholesome living, honesty in business affairs,
and sterling integrity of character, Mr. Maassen has long enjoyed the
undivided respect and esteem of all who know him and justly merits a
place in this volume of biographical memoirs of his county.
Note: These people are buried at Avoca,
Pottawattamie Co., Iowa
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