1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
Heese |
Hahn |
Jacoby |
Bissen |
Penniston |
Claussen |
Rosmann |
Scheuring |
Blum
The United States has been called the "melting pot" of the world and the title is very appropriate. There have come to these shores peoples from every corner of the globe. The famous Statue of Liberty which guards the entrance to New York harbor is a beacon to guide the oppressed of every land to a shore where there is liberty to all who enter. Millions have come to this country as the result of the unequal opportunities which faced them in their native land; millions have fled to this country to escape oppressions of one kind or another. The many European wars of the last century caused thousands to flee to this country and many of them settled in Shelby county, Iowa. and are now numbered among the most substantial citizens of the county.
Henry Heese, the son of John and Margaret (Drexelius) Heese, was born September 18, 1855, in Westphalia, Germany, a German state which has sent many citizens to this county. John Heese received a common school education in his native land and, upon his marriage, his father gave him a farm on which he lived until 1876. He then followed in the footsteps of thousands of his countrymen and decided to come to this country. He located in Westphalia township, in this county, in 1876, with all his family and at once settled on one hundred and sixty acres of land previously bought by his sons, Henry and Peter. Like all German farmers who settled in this county, he prospered and at the time of his death, in 1899, he was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent farming land.
His wife died in 1894. To John Heese and wife were born four children: Henry, Peter, John Carl and Bertha.
Henry Heese came to America when twenty years of age, and with his brother, Peter, fixed up a home for the rest of the family, who came the following year. Henry continued to help his father on the farm until his father retired from the farm in 1884. At that time his father divided his land among his children and gave him one hundred and sixty acres and to this he has added from time to time until he now has six hundred and forty acres of land in this township. He has not acquired all this land without hard work, having been one of the most progressive and wide-awake farmers in the county.
Mr. Heese was married September 30, 1884, to Amelia A. Kuhl, the daughter of Peter and Katherine (Finken) Kuhl. Her parents were natives of Germany but married in Wisconsin after coming to this country. Her father died in 1867 and her mother and the children came to this county in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhl reared a family of seven children: Matthew, Anna, Margaret, Angeline, Joseph, Amelia and Nicholas. To Mr. Heese and wife have been born nine children: Henry M., John V., Peter C., Mary K., Marie A., Frank, Bertha, Carl and Conrad. Henry married Lena Hahn and has two children, Aloysious and Alvira. All the rest of the
children are still single and living at home.
The Democratic party has claimed the vote of Mr. Heese, although he has not been actively identified in politics. All the members of the family are zealous adherents of the Earling Catholic church and give it their hearty
support.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1205 - 1206.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The history of Shelby county, Iowa, would not be complete without specific mention of the various business men whose activities have been conducive to the general welfare of the county. Each one of the urban centers of the county has its coterie of business men and these men are as important to the life of the county as are the farmers or the professional men. The city of Earling numbers several prosperous business men, and among these is Frank J. Hahn, the manager of the general mercantile establishment of Hahn & Company. He is one of the best representatives of the city's commercial life, progressive, enterprising and fully alive to the needs
of his particular business. Such qualities always win success, and while
Mr. Hahn has been engaged in the business only a comparatively short time, yet he has already demonstrated that he is a business man who will succeed. Frank J. Hahn, the son of Wenzel and Katherine (Lackman) Hahn, was born August 19, i88i, in Grove township, Shelby county, Iowa. His father was a native of Germany and his mother of Illinois. His father grew to manhood in his native land and after leaving the public schools of Germany came to America and located in New York city. He remained there only a short time and then came west and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked as a laborer for a short time. From Milwaukee he went to Appleton, in the same state, where he found employment as a farm hand. Shortly after coming into Appleton, Wisconsin, he learned of the excellent lands in Shelby county, Iowa, and he came directly to this county, where he has since resided. He has acquired a fine farm in Grove township, where he and his wife have reared a large family of children, all of whom are still living: Frank, Mary, Clara, Joseph, Lena, Dora, Katherine, William, Alphonso, Aloyious and Michael. Two of these children, Mary and Lena, besides Frank J., are married. Mary is the wife of Frank Panion, and Lena married Henry Heese. The other nine children are still single.
Frank J. Hahn was educated in the Catholic school at Earling and the district schools of his home neighborhood. After leaving school he worked with his father on the home farm until he was married. He then rented a farm from his father and operated it for two years, after which he moved to Earling and engaged in business. He and George J. Muenchrath established a general mercantile establishment, under the firm name of Muenchrath & Hahn, and they continued as partners until 1912, when F. W. Loehr bought the interest of Mr. Muenchrath, the new firm being known as Hahn & Loehr. A year later the firm of Hahn & Company was organized, and Mr. Loehr's interest was purchased by the new incorporation. The store of Hahn & Company is the most up-to-date store in Earling, not only in the equipment, but in the class of goods carried. The store has recently put in a new front and otherwise altered the interior so as to better display the goods and lend general attractiveness to the store. Earling has the reputation of having one of the best general stores in the country for a town of its size, and by its well managed owners it is rapidly building up a large and lucrative trade in the city of Earling and the surrounding community.
Mr. Hahn was married December 12, 1907, to Anna F. Feser, the daughter of John and Annie (Schmidt) Feser, and to this union have been born four children: Delbert, Leona, Arthur and Leroy, the last named dying when he was two weeks old. Mrs. Hahn's parents were natives of Germany and when they came to America located in Illinois. From that state they moved to Woodbine, Iowa, and later bought a farm in Westphalia township, this county. In 1912 Mr. Feser retired to Earling, Iowa, where he and his wife are now living. Mr. Feser and wife have reared a family of eleven children: John, F., Mary, Edward, Henry, Anna, Theresia,
Joseph, Anton, William, Agnes and Frank. John F. married Minnie Ernest; Mary is the wife of Frank Ernest; Edward married Carrie Muenchrath; Henry married Lena Schaben; Theresia is the wife of William Nauroth.
Mr. Hahn has been identified with the Democratic party since reaching his majority, and ~thi1e he is interested in everything pertaining to the general civic welfare of his community, yet he has never been inclined to take an active part in political affairs. He and his family are devoted members of the Catholic church, while Mr. Hahn is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1203 - 1205.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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No sturdier or better citizens come to our shores than the sons of Germany, who have made their homes in this country. Fortunate, indeed, is the community which receives these people and incorporates them in her body politic. Wherever found they are always industrious, upright and willing to do their share toward the advancement of the material and moral welfare of the community in which they live. In the old country they learned those habits of industry which insure success and upon arriving in this country they never fail to liring along those same habits which made them independent in their old home. Shelby county is fortunate in having so many of these excellent citizens, and among them John Jacoby occupies a prominent part in the community life of Union township, where he has long made his
home.
John Jacoby, the son of Hubert and Katherine Jacoby, was born in Germany November 27, 1867. His father worked as a laborer in the land of his birth until he came to the United States and located in Earling, Iowa. After locating there, he worked as a farm hand for a few years and then bought the farm where his son, John, is now living. Hubert Jacoby and wife had only one child, John, with whom this narrative deals. His mother died in 1879, before he and his father came to this country. John Jacoby was educated in Germany and came to this country with his father in' the early eighties. He worked for a short time by the month
until his father bought a farm and then he and his father began to farm together and have since continued together in partnership.
Mr. Jacoby was married January 26, 1890, to Josephine Kenkel, the daughter of Nicholas and Mary Kenkel. Mrs. Jacob's parents were natives of Germany, and she was born in that country, coming to the United States about twenty-five years ago, locating near Earling, in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Kenkel reared a family of thirteen children: Nicholas, Peter, John, Anthony, John P., Josephine, Elizabeth, Amelia, Katherine, Nicholas, Theodore, Victoria and Paul. Politically, Mr. Jacoby is a Democrat but has never had the inclination to participate in political affairs., He and his wife are devout members Of the Catholic church, to whose support they contribute generously. Mr. Jacoby is a man of genial disposition and kindly impulses and has a host of friends throughout the community where he has lived so,
many years.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1199-1200.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The acquisition of a farm of two hundred acres within a period of five years is some indication of the ability of Nicholas Bissen, a prosperous and enterprising farmer of Union township, Shelby county, Iowa. Born in this county thirty years ago and thoroughly interested in every phase of his county's agricultural development from his earliest days, he is now recognized as one of the most progressive citizens of his township. He comes from a pioneer German family of the county, known for its thrift and industry, and the qualities which have brought success to his father have brought success to the son.
Nicholas Bissen, the son of John and Mary (Gaul) Bissen, was born April 5, 1885, in Westphalia township, Shelby county, Iowa. John Bissen was born in Luxemburg, Germany, November 11, 1857, and is a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Huberta) Bissen. John Bissen's father was a veterinary surgeon and a farmer in his native country and when he came to this country, in 1869, he devoted all of his attention to farming. Nicholas Bissen, Sr., died in Shelby county, Iowa, January 8, 1882. There were five children born to Nicholas Bissen, Sr., and wife: Peter, John, Mary, Eva and Theresia.
John Bissen was twelve years old when he came with his parents to this country... and he completed his education in the schools of Shelby county. He was married in 1884 to Mary Gaul, the daughter of William and Albertina Gaul, natives of Germany, and to this union were born nine children: Nicholas, Lena, Katherine, Jacob, Paul, John, Joseph, Peter and Barbara. Lena is the wife of Hubert Jacoby and has four children, Mary, Leander, Mercedes and William; Katherine is the wife of Herman Esser and has four children, Alexander, Anthony, Marcello and Sylvan. Only one of the nine children is deceased. Jacob died August 8, 1912.
John Bissen is a most successful farmer of Shelby county, and owns a fine farm of five hundred and sixty acres in Westphalia township.
Nicholas Bissen was educated in the schools at Earling, Iowa, and after leaving school, farmed with his father until his marriage, in 1908. He then rented one hundred and twenty acres from his father for a year, and later bought one hundred and twenty acres. Two years later he added eighty acres to his farm, so that he is now the owner of two hundred acres of well improved land. He devotes most of his attention to the raising of corn and hogs. In 1913 he raised over three thousand bushels of corn, and averages from three to five thousand bushels of corn each year, and also from one thousand to two thousand bushels of oats. He feeds his corn to
hogs and markets one hundred and fifty head of hogs each year.
Mr. Bissen was married November 10, 1908, to Clara Book, the daughter of Joseph and Hilda (Hebner) Book, and to this union have been born five children: Hilda, Mary, Adala, and two who died in infancy.
Mr. Bissen and wife are devoted members of the Catholic church. Mr.Bissen is a member of the Catholic Knights of America. He is identified with the Democratic party, but his extensive agricultural interests do not permit activity in politics. Mr Bissen is a young man and his success in the past is the promise of a prosperous career in the future.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1198-1199.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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It is generally considered by those in the habit of superficial thinking that the history of so-called great men only is worthy of preservation and that little merit exists among the masses to call forth the praises of the historian or the plaudits and appreciation of mankind. A greater mistake was never made. No man is great in all things and very few are great in many things. Many by a lucky stroke achieve lasting fame who before had no reputation beyond the limits of their own neighborhoods. It is not a history of a lucky stroke which benefits humanity most, but the long study and effort which made the lucky stroke possible; it is the preliminary work, the method, that serves as a guide for the success of others. Among those in Shelby county who have achieved success along steady lines of action is Robert G. Penniston, the cashier of the bank of Defiance.
Robert G. Penniston, the son of Edmund and Mary (Theobold) Penniston, was born February 9, 1873, in Defiance, Iowa, and has spent the major portion of his life in the city of his birth. His father was born in England in 1845 and came to this country with his parents when he was a lad of six. The trip across the Atlantic was made in a sailing vessel and took six weeks. Upon their arrival in this country in 1851 his father immediately settled in Argyle, Wisconsin, and purchased `a small farm. Edmund Penniston was educated' in Wiscon~in and remained upon the home farm until his marriage, his wife being a native of Wisconsin. He and his young bride at once came to Shelby county where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of the farm on which he is still residing. He prospered from the start and now has two hundred and eighty acres of fine farming land in this county. To Edmund and Mary Jane (Theobold) Penniston were born four children: Robert, whose career is delineated in this connection; Ed Leroy, who married Elizabeth Mae Coyle, and who is a graduate of the Defiance high school. He is assistant cashier of the Defiance bank and a Republican; Ross E., who married Lydia Miller, who died in 1902; and Carrie Belle, who died at the age of eight years. She was the oldest child. -
Robert attended the district school of Greeley township and later graduated from the high school at Defiance in 1890. He then took the commercial course of Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa, graduating from the commercial department in 1891. He then returned to the farm and assisted his father until 1894 when he began to work for the Security Bank of Defiance. He remained here for three years, during which time he rapidly became acquainted with tile details of banking and security business. His next position was with the Miners Bank of Creede, Colorado, and after about a year and a half with this bank, he resigned to take the management of the Bank of Defiance. He was elected cashier of the bank October 1, 1900, and has been working in the same capacity ever since. He is at present the owner of a
third interest in this bank. He has impressed every one with whom he has been associated as a man who thoroughly understands every angle of the banking business, and to this fact may be attributed, in a large measure, the success of the bank.
Mr. Penniston was married September 9, 1899, to Anna Laura Warnock, the daughter of Samuel and Irene Warnock, and to this union there has been born one daughter, Thelma, who is now nine years of age. Mr. Warnock was born in Scotland, his wife in Wisconsin and they have had four children: Ernest, who is a contractor at Battle Creek, Iowa; Mrs. Anna Laura Penniston and two who died in infancy.
Mr. Penniston has always been interested in political affairs, particularly in local matters. He has been city treasurer eight years and at the present time is president of the school board and mayor of Defiance. In these positions he is favoring such measures as he feels will benefit his city in any way. He and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Penniston has held every office in the church at some time. He is a past master of the Masonic lodge of Defiance, Guardian Lodge No. ~i, and has always been a great worker in the fraternity. Mrs. Penniston is a member of the Eastern Star.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1196 - 1198.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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When we consider the habits of the German citizens who have cast their lot in our midst, we are not surprised at their almost uniform success in whatever line of activities they chose to enter, for they do not permit adversity or obstacles, to thwart them. They observe a proper economy and yet at the same time believe in having the necessities of life. They are loyal to our institutions and ever willing to assist in the general development of the community in which they locate, thus becoming most desirable citizens in every way. One of the large number of German citizens who have settled in Shelby county, Iowa, is John H. Claussen, a prosperous farmer of Lincoln township and a resident of this county for many years.
John H. Claussen, the son of Claus John and Kathrine (Tauck) Claussen, was born in Germany in 1857. Claus John and wile were the parents of five children three sons and two daughters. Two sons are now living in Lincoln township and one son in Shelby. One daughter is deceased and the other daughter lives with her brother in Shelby. John H. came to the United States in 1881. Peter and Kate followed in 1882, and four years later the parents and the other children came here. The father is now living in Shelby, while the mother passed away in 1900.
John H. Claussen was given a good common school education in his native land and when not quite twenty-four years of age, came to this country in order to find a better opportunity for advancement. Many of his friends had previously come to this state, and when he settled in Clinton county he had no difficulty in finding work upon the farms. Mr. Claussen worked as a farm hand for four years and then rented land in Shelby county. He continued to live upon a rented farm until 1893, when he bought a quarter section of land in Lincoln township, section 27, on which he has since resided, since increasing his holdings to three hundred and four acres.
He set out a fine grove of fruit and forest trees and takes a great deal of pride in their cultivation. He has made many improvements upon his farm since acquiring it and has thereby added to its value. In addition to the raising of all the crops common to this section of the state, he is making a specialty of the handling of graded live stock and has found by experience that this is a profitable adjunct to agriculture. He is a progressive farmer and does not hesitate to use the latest methods when he feels they will add to his annual income.
Mr. Claussen was married in 1889 to Anna Shadebrocht, who was born in Germany in 1866, and to this union have been born six children, Harry, Kathrine, Albert, Meta, John and Amanda. Harry is farming in this county and Kathrine married Andrew Anderson, a farmer of this county. The four younger children are still living with their parents and attending the public schools.
Mr. Claussen gives his support to the Democratic party, but has never been an aspirant for any public office nor taken an active part in political affairs. He and the members of his family are loyal adherents of the German Lutheran church and are interested deeply in its prosperity and contribute liberally of their means to its support. Mr. Claussen came to this county with practically no resources but a stout heart and willingness to work, and in the course of a few years he has acquired a fine farm and has a modern and attractive home. By perseverance, honest dealing and the employment of the best principles he has forged to the front and is now one
of the substantial and influential men of his township.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1216 -1217.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The advent of the automobile has brought into the world a new occupation, or rather a large number of new occupations. There are found throughout the towns and cities of the United States today dozens of shops, started for the purpose of automobile repairing and to these have been given the distinctive name of garages. It is safe to say that there are several hundred garages in Iowa alone, and every town of any size in Shelby county boasts of at least one garage. George Rosmann, the proprietor of the garage at Defiance, has built up a large trade. Many farmers of today think no more of getting an automobile repaired than of getting a horse shod, and this speaks well for the. prosperity of the county.
George Rosmann, the proprietor of the Rosmann garage, was born in Douglas township, this county, September 3, 1880. His parents were George and Anna (Ertmer) Rosmann. George Rosmann was a native of Austria and his wife was born in Illinois. George Rosmann, Sr., received his education in his native land and after leaving school worked at various occupations until he was about twenty years of age. Being a young man of spirit and energy, he decided to come to this country where better opportunities were offered. Immediately after coming here, he was employed in the mercantile business and located in Dubuque county, Iowa, after having saved enough money to purchase a one-hundred-and-sixty-acre farm. He bought his farm in Douglas township, Shelby county, and here he lived the life of a prosperous farmer until his death, which occurred January 9, 1911, his wife having died May 14, 1909. To George Rosmann, Sr., and wife were born fourteen children: George, Joseph, Mary, Carrie, Elizabeth, Anna, Carl, Francis, Louis, Josephine, Frank, Henry, Olive and Loretta. Joseph married Rosa Hodapp; Mary became the wife of Frank Hodapp; Carrie married John Henness; Elizabeth is a nun at St. Francis convent, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Anna is the wife of Bert Hodapp; Frances married John Kirschbaum; while the rest of the children are still unmarried and at home.
George Rosmann, Jr., was given a good, common school education in the schools of this county and then worked on the farm with his father until he was twenty-four years of age, when he married and purchased a farm in Douglas township, which, in addition to a part of the home farm which his father gave him, made a farm of very respectable proportions. He farmed for six years after his marriage and then moved to Defiance and started a garage. His shop is equipped with the latest improved machinery for all kinds of automobile repairing. He employs skilled mechanics to do his work. He has the county agency for the Overland automobile and has had the satisfaction of selling a large number of these excellent machines since starting in the business.
Mr. Rosmann was married to Rosetta Hofer, the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Binz) Hofer, who art residents of Freeport, Illinois, the father having been a farmer until 1910, when he retired from active work on the farm and moved to Freeport. Mr. and Mrs. Hofer are the parents of four children: Rosetta, the wife of Mr. Rosmann; Mary; wife of John Coenen, and Clara and Leona, who are still unmarried and at home with their parents.
The Democratic party claims the support of Mr. Rosmann although he has never been interested actively in political affairs. He and his wife are loyal members of the Catholic church, while Mr. Rosmann is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society and the Knights of Columbus.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1215 - 1216.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Biography is not to give a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave the opinion of his character held by his neighbors. In writing the life history of Theodore Scheuring fulsome laudation and extravagant praise are avoided, yet those facts which distinguish a true, useful and honorable man should not be overlooked. His life has been characterized by perseverance, energy, broad charity and well-defined purpose.
Mr. Scheuring is one of the many sterling citizens of German birth who have honored Shelby county. He was born June 10, I860, in Atlglasshuetten, Germany, and is the son of John and Anna M. (Uebelacker) Scheuring. After leaving school John Scheuring worked on the farm for his father in the summer and made wooden shoes during the winter season. making as many as four to five hundred shoes each year. He continued to assist his father upon the home farm until his marriage, when his father gave him a farm. He then lived upon the farm until 1867, when he decided to come to America to give his children better opportunities. The family landed at New York July 1, 1867, and soon located in Marshall county, Illinois, near Henry. Here John Scheuring rented a farm and lived for the next two years and a half. They then moved to La Salle county and rented a farm near Lostant, remaining here until 1881. The next change brought the family to Westphalia township, in Shelby county, Iowa, and here John Scheuring purchased a farm of eighty acres, and added to it as he could until he owned two hundred acres in this township. John Scheuring and wife were the parents of six children: Valentine, Rosa, Frank, Herman, Theodore and Mary. Rosa, Valentine and Frank died within fourteen days of each other with the scarlet fever, at the age of ten, twelve and eight, respectively. Herman married Katherine Kenkel and had twelve children, Theodore, John, Peter, Dora, Mary, Bernard, Nicholas, Aloyious, Anthony, Henry, Frank and Joseph. Mary became the wife of Matthew Pfeiffer and had fifteen children, John, Theodore, Herman, Anna, Joseph, Charles, Matthew Frank, Stephen, Rosa, Henry, Josephine, Lawrence, Agnes and Dolores. Mary, the daughter of Herman Scheuring, is the wife of Henry Agnitch and has one son, Vincent. Three of the children of Mary and Matthew Pfeiffer are married, John, Theodore and Anna. John Pfeiffer married Kate Kitzinger and has five children, Viola, Hildegard, Irene, Loretta and Anastasia. Theodore married Kate Miller and has two children, Cyril and Richard. Anna is the wife of John Miller and has two children, Fidelis and Dolores.
Theodore Scheuring received a year and a half of schooling in Germany and completed his education at Henry and Lostant, Illinois, attending about five years after coming to this country. After leaving school he worked upon his father's farm until his marriage, when his father gave him a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Westphalia township, iii this county. He farmed this until 1901, when he sold it and bought another farm of like acreage in this township, residing on it for the next eleven years. He then purchased his present farm of one hundred and ninety acres and expects to make this his home for the rest of his days. His farm is one of the most attractive in the township ,and under the skillful management of Mr. Scheuring is yielding excellent crops. He also raises a large amount of live stock each year and finds this a very profitable adjunct to regular farming.
Mr. Scheuring was married to Mary Altman, the daughter of Bernard and Magdalena (Klepper) Altman, and to this union there. have been born thirteen children, eleven of whom are living and still reside with their parents: Anna, Magdalena, Marx and Margaret, deceased; Josephine, Joseph, Susan, Nicholas, Theodora, John, Leona, Leo and Raymond.
Politically, Mr. Scheuring is a Democrat, but has never held any other office than that of school director for three years. For the past twenty-five years he has been the leader of the Earling cornet band, the oldest organized band in the state of Iowa. All the family are devout members of the Catholic church and give liberally of their means to its maintenance. Mr. Scheuring is a member of the Knights of Columbus and at the present tithe is chancellor of the lodge.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1212 - 1213.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One of the younger farmers of Shelby county, Iowa, is John P. Blum, who was born in this state and has been a resident of this county for the past twenty-two years. His well directed energies in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his own interests and his sound judgment have demonstrated what may be accomplished by a man of energy and ambition. He has persevered often in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and has proved that he is possessed of those innate qualities that never fail to bring success. He is strictly the architect of his own fortune and has made everything he has solely through his own unaided efforts.
John P. Blum, the son of Peter and Margaret (Wick) Blum, was born September 7, 1876, in Mitchell county, Iowa. His father was born in Germany and his mother in Wisconsin, his father coming to this country with his parents when he was eight years of age and settling in Wisconsin. His father purchased a farm there and in that state Peter Blum was educated, married and operated a farm for several years. He came to Shelby county, Iowa, in 1882, and located in Westphalia, where he is now living a retired life with his daughter, Rosa. His wife died May 16, 1911. Peter Blum and wife were the parents of nine children: Joseph, who married Lena
Leanen; John P., with whom this narrative deals; Jacob, who married Katherine Rizelman; Nicholas, who married Sophie Leanen; Peter, who married Martha Duldorf; Mary, the wife of August Kramer; Margaret, the wife of Joseph Dotzler; Rosa, the wife of Benjamin Fritz, and Katherine, the wife of Jacob Leanen.
John P. Blum received all of his education in the schools at Westphalia, Iowa, and when twelve years of age began to work out by the month. He worked out for about fourteen years, and then engaged in carpenter work, in which he was engaged for some time. In 1905 he married and rented a farm for a short time, after which he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Union township, and to this he has subsequently added until he is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of excellent farming land in this township. He has improved it in various ways, and by a system of scientific crop rotation made the farm one of the most productive in the county. He gives due attention to raising live stock, Brown Polled cattle and Chester White hogs and grains, and has found by experience that the
greatest profit in farming is to be derived from stock raising.
Mr. Blum was married May 16, 1905, at Westphalia, Iowa, to Elizabeth Rueshenberg, the daughter of Joseph and Josephine (Sasse) Rueshenberg, and to this union have been born five children: Victor, Laura, Edgar, Leonard and Virgil. Mrs. Blum's parents were married in 1867 and reared a family of eleven children: Frank, Robert, Joseph, Christian, Bertha, Elizabeth, Ernest, Annie, Clara and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Blum's mother died March 1, 1914, while her father is still living, now making his home in Westphalia. The reader is referred to the sketch of Joseph Rueshenberg, found elsewhere in this volume.
In the summer and fall of 1914 Mr. Blum erected a fine, modern home, situated on a commanding eminence about one-fourth of a mile from the main road and two and one-half miles from Defiance and overlooking the valley of the west branch of the Nishnabotna. This residence consists of eleven rooms, hard wood floors and casements, equipped with heating plant and hot and cold running water and lighted with gas.
Mr. Blum has always been identified with the Democratic party, but has confined his political activities to casting of his vote at election time. He has never had the inclination nor the time to take an active part in political matters, leaving that to others who are interested in such things. He and his family are all loyal and devout members of the Defiance Catholic church, and support it to the extent of their ability. Mr. Blum is a member of the Roman Catholic Protective Society, and is now president of the local organization.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1218 - 1219.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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