John STOLBERG, who is residing in Lamoni, is still operating his farm, which comprises six hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, three hundred and twenty in Fayette township, Decatur county, and three hundred and forty in Ringgold county. His birth occurred in Schleswig-Holstein, German, on the 23d of December, 1852, and his parents were John P. and Mary (HANSON) STOLBERG, the former of whom died when his son was but an infant. In 1856 the mother removed to Will county, Illinois, but our subject did not emigrate to the United States until 1865. She was married in Illinois to Henry PETERS and they subsequently went to Grinnell, Iowa, where she died at the age of seventy-seven years. She was a Lutheran in her religious faith. The subject of this review was the only child born to her first union but by her second marriage she had a number of children. Our subject, however, is the only one who resides in Decatur County.

John STOLBERG received a little schooling in Germany and attended school for a short time after removing to this [Decatur] county but was early obliged to earn his own support and it took him two years to repay his passage money to America, which had been lent him by an uncle. He remained in Will county, Illinois, until April, 1877, when he came to Decatur county, Iowa, where he worked for a year in the employ of the late David DANCER. He then rented land from Mr. DANCER for three years, at the end of which time he had accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to buy two hundred and forty acres. Subsequently he added an eighty acre tract adjoining and still later invested in farming land in Ringgold county. His land was partly improved when it came into his possession but he has brought it to a higher state of cultivation and has erected a number of good buildings. He has two large farms besides twenty acres of timber land and has taken his son, Roy H., into partnership with him in the conduct of his farming and stock-raising interests. They give employment to a number of men and are known as alert, progressive and successful agriculturists. They receive a handsome financial return from their land and are substantial and representative citizens of Decatur County.

On the 5th of June, 1879, in Will county, Illinois, occurred the marriage of Mr. STOLBERG and Miss Louisa HANSEN, who was born in Will county, Illinois, on the 2d of March, 1860, of the marriage of Peter and Anna (WILKINS) HANSEN, both natives of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. They were married in that province and remained there until 1857, when they crossed the Atlantic to the new world and located in Will county, Illinois. Both have passed away, the father dying on the 31st of August, 1888, when fifty-eight years of age, and the mother in 1895, when seventy-two years old. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters and the two sons are still living in Will county. They were Lutherans in religious faith and the father served the required time in the German army.

Mr. and Mrs. STOLBERG have five living children: Albert Peter, who is farming in Decatur county; Emma Amelia, who became the wife of Martin NOFTSGER, of Faulk county, South Dakota, by whom she has a daughter, Margaret Louise; Jessie Belle, who gave her hand in marriage to Samuel P. YOUNG, of Missouri, by whom she has two children, Cecil J. D. and Alberta Maria; Roy Hansen, who is in partnership with his father; and John Burton, at home. A daughter, Minnie May, died when five months old.

The republican party receives the support of Mr. STOLBERG, who is convinced of the soundness of its principles. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his wife is affiliated with the Daughters of Rebekah. Both hold membership in the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints and take an active part in the work of that organization, especially in the Sunday School.

Since 1906 Mr. STOLBERG has resided in a fine residence in Lamoni but still gives much time to the supervision of his extensive farming and stock-raising interests. He feeds many head of fine stock each year and finds that a very profitable business. He takes the greater pride in his success because it has been gained without the aid of influential firends, as he began his independent career with no capital but his strength, energy and determination to win prosperity. There has never been any doubt as to his integrity and honesty and those who know him most intimately are his sincerest friends.

SOURCES:
HOWELL, J. M. & CONOMAN, Heman. History of Decatur County, Iowa, and Its People Vol. II. Pp. 232-34. S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Chicago. 1915.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2009