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When the tocsin of war sounded, Adrian Schultes responded to his country's call for aid, put aside personal considerations, and followed the banner of the Union to the battlefields of the South. He is now a veteran of the war, and deserves all the honor and credit which is given to the boys in blue. He is, moreover, one of the most prosperous and successful farmers of Huron township, having now extensive landed possessions, all acquired through his own labors. He was born March 4, 1833, in Baden, Germany, his parents being Michael and Barbara (Fisher) Schultes. He was educated in the public schools, but his opportunities in this direction were very meager, for at about seven years of age he began to earn his own living. In accordance with the laws of the land he had to render military service to his country when twenty-one years of age, and he remained with the army for six years, being aide-de-camp the second year. He was reared, however, to farm work, and has always been identified with agricultural pursuits.
It was in May, 1861, that Mr. Schultes arrived in America, locating first at Port Jervis, N. Y. He afterward came to Burlington, Iowa, but not being able to get more than eight dollars per month for his services here, he went to Wisconsin. After a brief period he enlisted at Menominee, Wis., as a member of Company D, Fifth Wisconsin Infantry. The regiment was mustered in at Madison, Wis., and was assigned to the army of the Potomac. With his command Mr. Schultes participated in many important engagements, including the battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Rappahannock, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Courthouse, North Anna River, Hanover Courthouse, Cold Harbor, and the assault on Petersburg. He was afterward called to Washington, and fought at Edward's Ferry, Snicker's Gap, Belleville, and Winchester. He was on picket duty for thirteen days, and in the fall of 1864 returned to Washington, after which he was sent to Petersburg. Feb. 17, 1865, at Cold Harbor, his bayonet was struck with a bullet, which split and cut his face to some extent. He was also in the battle of Hedges Run and in the storming of Petersburg. He became ill at Fredericksburg because of wounds he had sustained, and was in the hospital for four months. He was taken prisoner during the first day's battle of the Wilderness, but was held as a captive for only a brief period, his forty men with him capturing a corps of three hundred men. The command received an honorable discharge at Hall's Hill, Va., and the corps made its review about two weeks later.
Following the close of the war Mr. Schultes returned to Wisconsin and later came to Des Moines county, Iowa, locating in Huron township, where his sister lived. Here he carried on farming for a time and in 1867 he bought eighty acres of land and later purchased one hundred and fifty-nine acres. The latter tract was afterward sold to Mr. Wadleigh and is now owned by Mr. Newhouse. His farm of one hundred and twenty acres lay on Section 24, and to this he has added until he now has a valuable and extensive farm comprising five hundred and ninety four acres on Sections 24 and 19, and he also has thirty-four acres on Section 26, Huron township. He raises and feeds about fifty-five calves each year, and has also engaged extensively in raising horses. All of his land lies along the river bottom except the thirty-four-acre tract of timber and, take it all, constitutes a beautiful farm, which is very rich and productive and is highly tilled. His methods are practical, systematic, and prove resultant factors in winning him success, and he is today accounted one of the leading agriculturists of his community.
Mr. Schultes was married Feb. 18, 1808, to Miss Emerence Worley, a daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Shinzer) Worley, and a native of Baden, Germany. They have one child, Tinney, who was born Jan. 14, 1869, and an adopted daughter, Mary, who was born April 8. 1881, and is now the wife of Benjamin Luckinbill.
Mr. Schultes is a stanch Republican in politics but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests, in which he has met with signal success. He is now a member of Shepard Post, Grand Army of the Republic, Mediapolis, and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. In all matters of citizenship he is as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the old flag upon southern battle-fields. In his religious faith he is a Catholic. His determination to seek a home in America was a wise one, for here he found improved business opportunities, and by the utilization of the advantages which have come to him he has gradually worked his way upward from a humble financial position to one of affluence, and the young man of limited financial circumstances who arrived at New York in 1861 is now one of the prosperous farmers of Huron township.
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