THEODORE SONTAG

THEODORE SONTAG *, of Cass Township, Shelby County, adopted America, as his country in 1872, in which year he emigrated from France. He was born in Loraine, France, June 24, 1850, and is a son of Matthias and Margaret Sontag*. Until his fifteenth year he attended the public schools of his native country, and acquired a good education. After leaving school he engaged in farming, and continued this occupation until he was twenty-two years of age. Mr. Sontag* has also had a taste of military life having served eleven months in the Franco-Prussian war, in the vicinity of Paris. In 1872 he sailed for New York, and immediately upon his arrival proceeded to Keokuk County, Iowa, and made his home there until 1878; he then came to Shelby County, and bought eighty acres of wild land. He was very prosperous in all his undertakings, and now owns 240 acres of good farm land. It is well improved with buildings, a grove and an orchard, all showing industry and thrift. Mr. Sontag* was married March 4, 1878, to Miss Mary Korth, a daughter of Jacob Korth, Sr., of Portsmouth; her native state is Wisconsin, but she was reared and educated in Keokuk County, Iowa. They are the parents of five children-Mary Margaret, Matthias Peter, John, Joseph, and Anna Catherine. Mr. Sontag* is a leading Democrat of his township. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and is counted one of the reliable citizens of Cass Township.
* SONDAG - Theodore & Mary are buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Portsmouth, IA

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 622-623. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs