Albert C. Philipp, a most enterprising young farmer living on section 1, South Fork township, was born in this county October 12, 1888, a son of Henry and Mary (Meineke) Philipp, both of whom were natives of Germany. Leaving that country on the 16th of August, 1882, the crossed the Atlantic to the new world and journeyed to the middle west, settling in Delaware county, Iowa, near Earlville. The father was first employed by others but afterward purchased a farm and carried on general agricultural pursuits on his own account. He died March 24, 1902, at the age of forty nine years, while his widow still survives at the age of fifty six years, and makes her home with her son, Albert. In the family were six sons, of whom five are yet living. Henry F., the eldest, born in Germany, May 5, 1878, and now the owner of a farm near Arlington, Iowa, married Louisa Esch and has four children. Charles E., born January 12, 1882 follows farming and married Frances Kramer, by whom he has three children. William W., born November 21, 1885, wedded Isa E. Gienapp and they have one child. Albert C. is the next of the family. August W., born September 18, 1891, is now in partnership with his brother Albert. Frederick died in infancy.

     In the usual manner of farm lads Albert C. Philipp spent the days of his boyhood and youth, dividing his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of a public school education. He and his brother August have won substantial success as farmers and contractors for road building. They purchased the old homestead property from their father, comprising one hundred and fifty seven acres near Earlville, and continued its cultivation for four years. They paid forty five dollars an acre for the property but cultivated and managed it in such a manner that it greatly increased in value and in 1913 they sold it for three times their original purchase price. On the 14th of September, 1914, they purchased two hundred and twenty nine acres in South Fork township with crops, cattle, horses and machinery -- in fact everything save the household furniture  -- for fourteen thousand dollars, for which they paid cash.  They are also owners of the largest residence in Earlville and several lots worth about five thousand dollars. They justly accounted leading business men of Delaware county. They seem to grasp intuitively the strong points in a business situation and are able so to direct and utilize their opportunities as to win substantial success. They are both stanch republicans and their lives are in harmony with their profession as members of the German Lutheran church.