USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 72
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A Republican in politics, Mr. Kline has served as school director. The Kline family are supporters and frequent attendants at the Congregational church, although they are not church members.
Lately, Mr. Kline has improved his farm by the erection of a large fourteen-room house with baths, waterworks, and every other modern con- venience. His barns are kept in first-class condition, and he is numbered among the up-to-date and enterprising citizens of this county, a worthy citizen in every respect.
FRED WAHLERT, SR.
For many years an active and well-known farmer of Audubon county, Fred Wahlert, Sr., who has passed the age of seventy-five. is still capable of doing the work of a much younger man. Since retiring from the farm and moving to Exira, he has taken the agency for the Greeley Mutual In- surance Company and also the agency for the State Tornado and Fire In- surance Company and is proving a very capable representative in this sec- tion for these companies. When Mr. Wahlert retired from farming, he owned four hundred and eighty acres of well-improved land. He now owns one of the most splendid dwellings and residence properties in the town of Exira.
Fred Wahlert, Sr., was born on March 29, 1840, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the son of John and Arsby (Starman) Wahlert, also natives of Schleswig-Holstein.
Mr. Wahlert received a good education in the schools of his native land and after leaving school, worked out as a farm hand for twelve years. When he was twenty-six years old, or in 1866, he came to America, and locating in Moline, Illinois, worked in a saw-mill for one year. Mr. Wahl- ert then obtained a position with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific rail- road as a fireman and was employed in this capacity for two years. At
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the end of that time he rented a farm in Henry county, Illinois, where he farmed for twelve years. Coming to Audubon county in 1881, he pur- chased two hundred and forty acres of land, and the same year Mr. Wahlert's parents crossed the Atlantic from the old country and came to Audubon county, where they lived until their deaths.
On August 18, 1862, Fred Wahlert, Sr., was married to Anna Polm, the daughter of John Polm, who also was a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wahlert, Sr., have had five children: Fred, Jr., John, Carrie, Winnie and Anna. Fred Jr., married Emma Porter and has five children, Clarence, Elva, Thelma, Randall and Raymond; John married Emma Fronz and has five children, Esther, Harry, Francis, Cora and Mary Elizabeth; Carrie is the wife of Arthur Schweneker and has six children, Clara, Sarah, Elsie, Peter, Carl and Helen ; Winnie became the wife of Louis Schweneker; Anna married John Kibbens.
A Democrat in politics, Mr. Wahlert has served as township trustee and held other minor offices in the community where he lived while engaged in active farming. The Wahlert family are all members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Wahlert is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons and also the Maccabees. He and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Fred Wahlert, Sr., is not only well known in Exira and the surround- ing country, but he is also popular as a man of exceptional intelligence and kindly manners. Out of the toil of his early years he has saved a substan- tial competence for his declining days, which he is expecting to pass in peace and plenty.
JOHN C. TIBBEN.
John C. Tibben, a representative member of one of the old families of Audubon county, which has long been prominent in the agricultural life of this county and himself the owner of three hundred and forty-two acres of land in Audubon township, was born on March 24, 1872, in Rock Island county, Illinois, the son of John W. and Catherine (Schweneker) Tibben. John W. and Catherine Tibben were natives of Hanover and Schleswig- Holstein, Germany, respectively, the former being only fourteen or fifteen years old when he was brought to America by his parents, Henry and Anna (Gummers) Tibben. After landing at New Orleans, the family had pro- ceeded as far as St. Louis up the river, when John C. Tibben's grandfather
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was taken violently ill and died of cholera. His grandmother, the next spring, brought the family, including Mr. Tibben's father, to Port Byron, Illinois, where they lived until 1880, when Mr. Tibben's father and mother came to Audubon county, and where the mother lived until her death at the age of ninety years. John C. Tibben's father was married in Rock Island county, Illinois, to Catherine Schweneker, who had come with her parents to America when about seventeen years old in 1862. They purchased three hundred and fifteen acres of unimproved land from the Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company in 1877, paying seven dollars an acre for it. The first house, a rude structure, eighteen by twenty-six feet, with twelve-foot posts, served as a home until 1885, when it was remodeled and additions made to it. The parents lived on the home farm in section 2 of Audubon township until their death. The father had added eighty-six acres more to the farm, and at the time of his death, owned about four hundred acres.
John C. Tibben, the subject of this sketch, after living at home until he was twenty-one years old. was then married and rented land for two years. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section 25 of Greeley township, where he lived for seven years. His father, having died, he came to live with his mother, making the change on November 14, 1900. In 1902 Mr. Tibben sold his Greeley township farm, having purchased one hundred and eighty acres of the home place. He has added to this tract, in the meantime, until he now owns three hundred and forty-two acres. Forty acres were added at one time, forty acres at another time and eighty- two acres in the last tract. Mr. Tibben has one other set of buildings be- sides those on the home place.
On December 16, 1891, John C. Tibben was married in Audubon county, Iowa, to Anna Wahlert, who was born on March 30, 1872, in Henry . county, Illinois, and who is the daughter of Fred and Anna ( Polm) Wahl- ert, natives of Holstein, Germany. Mr. Tibben's mother and Mrs. Tibben's mother were chums during school days in the old country.
Mr. and Mrs. Tibben have been the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living: Fred, born on July 24, 1892; Frank, February 13, 1894, who married Lillie Creese and has two children, Donald and Merlin Edwin; Laura, April 14, 1896, who married Peter J. Schwab; George, December 5, 1900; Warren, July 29, 1903; Arnold, April 27, 1906; Veda, December 24, 1908; Gertrude, December 18, 1910, and Ruth, December 17, 1913.
John C. Tibben is a Republican in politics and has served as township assessor for five years. Although the Tibben family were baptized in the German Lutheran church, they are not members of this church.
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Mr. Tibben is not only one of the most extensive farmers of this section, but he is one of the most skillful. He has watched closely the mod- ern developments in farming and, as fast as they have appeared, has adopted the improved and scientific processes. Mr. Tibben is popular in his com- munity and is considered an excellent judge and a successful practitioner of scientific farming.
GEORGE J. MEYER.
George J. Meyer, of Audubon township, Audubon county, Iowa, who first came to this county in 1885, and who has been prominent in the busi- ness, civic and fraternal life of the township for many years, was born January 17, 1860, in Rock Island county, Illinois. He is the son of John J. and Magdalena (Barnholt) Meyer, natives of Holstein, Germany, who were married in their native land and who came to this country about 1854. Mr. and Mrs. John J. Meyer, after landing in New York, journeyed to Chicago, where they lived for a time. From Chicago they moved to Mo- line, in Rock Island county, Illinois, and here the father lived as a farmer until his death, following which the mother moved to Des Moines. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living, as follow : Mrs. Eliza Ash, Mrs. Mary Mason, George J., Robert and Henry. George J. is the only member of the family living in Audubon county.
George J. Meyer attended the common schools in Illinois until fifteen years old, being unable to obtain a thorough education. When twenty-one years old he started in life for himself, working out for a time by the month. Later, he rented the home farm and operated that until 1891, when he came to Audubon county, where he purchased a hundred and twenty acres of land in section 9, Audubon township. This farm was only slightly im- proved and Mr. Meyer has since erected a large house, barn, cribs and other buildings, making it one of the most highly-improved farms of the township.
On February 10, 1885, Mr. Meyer was married to Anna Jacobsen, who was born in Schleswig, Germany, and who is the daughter of Carl and Ida (Volck) Jacobsen, natives of Germany, born near Kiel. They, after coming to the United States, first lived in Rock Island county, Illinois, and in 1885 they moved to Audubon county, Iowa.
After Mr. Meyer's marriage, he and his wife returned to Illinois, and lived there until 1891. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyer,
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only seven are now living. Charles, George and Nora died during an epidemic of diphtheria in the fall of 1892. The living children are, Walter, who was born March 10, 1887, and married Nettie Tibben; John, June I, 1892; Nellie, December 25, 1894; Ida, September 12, 1896; Robert, May 13, 1899; Magdalena, March 10, 1901, and Earl, June 21, 1904.
A member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Brother- hood of America, Mr. Meyer is considered prominent in fraternal circles in this vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are also members of the Eastern Star, the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Masonic lodge. Both are members at Exira. Although Mr. Meyer was formerly a Democrat, he has been an independent voter during late years. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer were baptized in the Lutheran church, of which denomination their parents were members. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer's children are members of the Audubon township Christian church, and Mr. Meyer was one of the substantial contributors to the fund raised in connection with the organization of this church.
George J. Meyer believes in keeping only the best stock obtainable and was one of the leading organizers of the Audubon Township Creamery Company, of which he has been treasurer for more than twelve years. Mr. Meyer is a prominent citizen ; is a man of strong convictions, and being ag- gressive in his attitude, is a natural leader of men. The Meyer family are popular in Audubon township.
ANTON PETERSEN.
A popular farmer of Audubon township, Audubon county, Iowa, who since 1909 has owned a hundred and sixty acres of land in section 15, where he now lives, is Anton Petersen, born on March 10, 1861, in Schleswig, Germany, and the son of Peter N. and Marie ( Kruse) Petersen, also prob- ably natives of Schleswig. Mr. Petersen, whose fortunes have survived the loss sustained in a disastrous fire. makes a specialty of dairying, and has been very successful in mixed farming.
Mr. Petersen's father, a day laborer in Germany, had nine children, five of whom are deceased, and four of whom are still living. Those living are. Nels, a former resident of Audubon county and a merchant at Bray- ton for several years; Nicoline, who lives in Schleswig, Germany; Nes, who lives near Elkhorn, Shelby county, and Anton, the subject of this sketch. The deceased children are, Anna, Martin, Mary, Anna Marie and an infant son.
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After attending school until about sixteen years old, Anton Petersen worked out by the month, until nineteen, and then came to the United States in the fall of 1880, settling first in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where his brothers live. After working on a farm for about a year and a half, he began working for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad as a section hand, and was so employed for three years. He then rented a farm in Shelby county, and continued as a renter for twenty-four years, living on one farm for sixteen years. In 1909 he purchased a hundred and sixty acres of land in section 15 of Audubon township, and here he now lives. While living in Shelby county, his premises were burned out, and on that occasion he lost many valuable records.
In January, 1880, before coming to the United States, Mr. Petersen was married to Anna Smith, who was born on December 14, 1859, in Schleswig, when it was a part of Denmark. She is the daughter of Hans J. and Christena (Hase) Smith, the former of whom was a native of Schleswig, and the latter a native of Aalborg, Denmark. Only a few years after Mr. and Mrs. Petersen had come to this country, Mrs. Petersen's parents came over also. They first located in Illinois and after living in that state for five years, removed to Minnesota, where they lived for twelve years. After the death of the father, while the family was living in Min- nesota, the mother returned to Illinois, where some of the children lived. Four brothers and one sister lived to maturity, as follow: Christian, John, Martin, Peter and Mrs. Bertha Shafer. Martin came to the United States before Mrs. Peterson, his sister, and the wife of the subject of this sketch, but his whereabouts are unknown. Peter lives in Michigan.
Mr. and Mrs. Petersen have been the parents of eleven children, as follow : Christena, who was born on January 20, 1881, married Nels Nelsen, and they had five children at the time of the father's death, James William, Anton, Andrew and Anna; Mary, October 1, 1883, married Nels Salmon- sen, and they live in Montana, and have seven children, Elmer, Bertha, Arthur, Martha, Anna, Carl and Peter; Peter, August 30, 1885; Hans, December 10, 1887: Andrew, September 2, 1888; Anna, August 30, 1891, and married Jerry Josephsen, of Adair county, by whom she has had three children, Esther, Elvera and Carl; Martha, January 10, 1893; Lena, Feb- ruary 22, 1895; Arthur, May 23, 1897; Clara, August 23, 1899, and Anton, May 26, 1903.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Petersen has held no offices. He is en- gaged in general farming and stock raising, and his success as a farmer is due to the close attention which he has paid to his vocation and to the
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study which he has made of the improved methods and to his capacity for putting those methods into effect. Popular in the neighborhood where he lives, he has had a commendable part in every worthy enterprise of his vicinity.
JOHN NISSEN.
John Nissen, one of the more extensive farmers of this county, and the only member of the Nissen family who has come to Audubon county, was born on June 14, 1867, in Schleswig, Germany, the son of John and Lena (Jacobson) Nissen, both of whom were natives of Schleswig, Ger- many. John Nissen, Sr., a farmer in his native land, came to America in 1869, and located in Scott county, Iowa, where he rented a farm for eight years, and then removed to Shelby county, Iowa. There he purchased three hundred and twenty acres and increased his holdings eventually to five hun- dred and twenty acres. He was engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing until his retirement a few years ago, when he removed to Harlan. He is a veteran of the Danish-German War of 1864, having served during the entire period of that memorable struggle. John, Sr., and Lena (Jacobson) Nissen had seven children, Chris, Charles, Peter, Hattie, Minnie, Christina and John, Jr. The mother of these children died on November 20, 19II.
John Nissen, who has made a very flattering success as a farmer, and who now owns two hundred and eighty acres of land in Oakfield township, eighty acres of land in Greeley township, and forty acres of land in Hamlin township, Audubon county, was educated in the public schools of Shelby county, Iowa, and after leaving school farmed with his father until he reached his majority, when he rented land and began farming for himself. After three years he purchased a hundred and twenty acres in Hamlin township, Audubon county, and here farmed for three years, when he sold out and purchased two hundred acres in Shelby county, and farmed there for five years. After selling the Shelby county farm, Mr. Nissen purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Jackson township, Shelby county, and there was engaged as a farmer for seven years, when he sold out once more, and purchased four hundred and eighty-seven acres in Cass and Adair counties. There he was engaged in general farming for four years, and once more he sold out and purchased the farm in Audubon county, upon which he is now living. In this farm he has invested about ten thousand dollars for improvements of various kinds, such as ditches, drains and out-
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buildings. Ordinarily Mr. Nissen raises fifty acres of corn, and feeds about one hundred head of hogs and seventy-head of cattle every year.
On December 2, 1896, John Nissen was married to Esther Mortensen, the daughter of Peter and Mary Mortensen. Three children, Peter, John and Warren, have been born to this marriage. All of them are living at home with their parents.
Esther Mortensen, although born in Shelby county, Iowa, is a daughter of native-born Danish parents, who came to America during the early sev- enties, and located in Shelby county, Iowa, being among the early settlers of that county. Her father purchased a farm, and here was occupied as a farmer until his death, March 25, 1903. His wife is living at Harlan, Iowa. Peter and Mary Mortensen were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are now living, namely: Mary, John, Marten, Samuel, Fred, Louis, William and Mrs. Nissen.
The success of John Nissen as a farmer in this state is not a matter of accident, since he is possessed of indomitable energy and splendid busi- ness ability. He has always been a splendid judge of farm values, and out of the many trades, purchases and sales he has made he has been able to make very satisfactory profits. His reputation for honorable and square dealing in the various communities where he has lived has also been an important factor in his success.
HERMAN HAMMANN.
One of the older citizens of Audubon township, Audubon county, and one of the longest residents of this community is Herman Hammann, a well-known farmer of this township. Mr. Hammann was born on February 16, 1847, in Luxemburg, Germany, and is the son of a Joachim and Mar- guerite (Henney) Hammann, natives of Lauenberg and Hanover, respec- tively. The mother's parents moved to Lauenberg, however, when she was a small child and the father, who was a watchman and shepherd, in his native land and the son of Henry Hammann, a native of Mecklenburg, became a farmer after immigrating to the United States. Joachim and Marguerite Hammann were the parents of five children: Henry, John, Mary, Kate and Herman.
On arrival at the United States in 1868, the Hammann family came direct from New York city to Iowa county, Iowa, and fifteen years later,
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in 1883, moved to Audubon county, where the parents lived until their death.
After living at home until twenty-three years old, and having in the meantime obtained a good common school education, Herman Mammann worked in a brick yard for a time and then took up farm work. He worked nine years for his father after coming to Audubon county, and, at the end of this period, purchased eighty acres of land in section 12, of Audubon township, where he now lives. This farm has been entirely transformed under his ownership and management. It was originally railroad land, for which George Fago paid eight dollars an acre, but Mr. Hammann paid him twenty-two dollars and one-half per acre for it, when there was only a small twelve-by-sixteen-foot house and a small stable. The present house is an eight-room structure and the present barn, which displaced one twenty- four by sixteen feet, is forty-four by fifty-four feet. In addition to these buildings, Mr. Hammann has also erected substantial hog houses, chicken houses and other out-buildings.
When nearly forty years of age, Mr. Hammann was married on June I, 1886, to Mary Echternacht, who was born on March 17, 1868, in Cedar county, Iowa, and who is the daughter of Jacob and Elvina ( Shoemacher ) Echternacht, both natives of Pennsylvania. The Shoemacher family is a very old one in the United States and are located in Cedar county, Iowa, since 1865. Coming to Audubon county about 1867, the family settled in Audubon township and were very early settlers here. The father died in Audubon county; the mother is still living in Pennsylvania, in Schuylkill county, where she was reared.
Mr. and Mrs. Hammann have been the parents of five children, of whom three are living: Emma, who was born on March 31, 1888, married Louis Bauer and has three children, Bertha, George and Walter; Bertha, January 7, 1892, married Edward Wahlert, and William, May 19, 1894, lives at home.
While Mr. Hammann is at present identified with the Republican party, he voted the Democratic ticket for many years. He has never held office. The Hammann family are members of the St. John's Lutheran church and Mr. Hammann's father, Joachim Hammann, was one of the organizers of this church and an active supporter of it all of his life.
Herman Hammann is a worthy citizen of this great county and a man, who by diligent industry and good management, has been unusually suc- cessful in agriculture. He is devoted to his chosen vocation and is a popu- lar resident of Audubon township.
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HERMAN C. WEDEMEYER.
Notwithstanding the fact that Herman C. Wedemeyer is still in the prime of life, he has succeeded in accumulating valuable farm real estate in Audubon county, where he now owns two hundred and thirty-five acres of land, all of which is located in section 14, Audubon township. Having begun with a tract of eighty acres, a farm which was poorly improved, at the time of his marriage, Mr. Wedemeyer has added to his holding from time to time, and now owns one of the best-improved farms in the township.
Herman C. Wedemeyer, who was born on January 8, 1871, in Guthrie county, Iowa, is the son of Jacob and Catherine ( Earnest) Wedemeyer, natives of Hanover, Germany, who were married in their native land, and who owned a farm in that country. Herman C. is the only one of the ten children who was born in this country. Of the ten children born to Jacob and Catherine (Earnest) Wedemeyer, only five, Henry, Chris, Anna, Mary and Herman C., are still living. Mary is the only one of the children, except Herman C., who is living in Audubon county. Coming to the United States about 1868 or 1869, the Wedemeyer family settled in Guthrie county, Iowa, where the father purchased a relinquishment. The country was wild and the land was wild, and there were few except Indians for neighbors ; the Indians, however, were friendly and they caused no trouble other than their begging. After living in Guthrie county until 1876, the Wedemeyer family came to Audubon county, where they purchased a hundred and sixty acres of land in Audubon township. Jacob Wedemeyer added to this orig- inal tract of land at various times until he owned five hundred and twenty acres in Audubon township, and a hundred and seventy-seven acres in Guthrie county. The parents lived in Audubon township until their death.
After having been educated in the common schools of his neighbor- hood and after living at home until he was grown, Herman C. Wedemeyer purchased eighty acres of land in 1893 at the time of his marriage, and it is upon this tract that he now lives. In the meantime he has added to the farm until he now owns two hundred and thirty-nine acres, all in section 14. Originally the land was in poor condition, and the eighty-acre tract had only a fourteen-by-eighteen-foot house with a shed roof. Mr. Wede- meyer lived in this house for four years, and then built his present large, nine-room home; barns, cribs, granaries and a garage have also been added.
On February 1, 1893, Herman C. Wedemeyer was married in Audubon county to Emma Bireline, who was born on September 19, 1872, in John-
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son county, Iowa, and who is the daughter of Fred and Julia ( Michels) Bireline, natives of Germany, who came to the United States at different times, and who were married in this country, either in Johnson county, Iowa, or in Chicago, Illinois. They had seven children, six of whom, Minnie, Mrs. Wedemeyer, Kittie, Fred, George and Anna, are living; Mary is deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Herman C. Wedemeyer have had two children, Clara, born on November 23, 1893, and Oscar, May 11, 1898; both of these chil- dren live at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Wedemeyer and family are members of the St. John's German Lutheran church, and Mr. Wedemeyer's father was one of the charter members of the congregation and took a very active interest in church affairs. Herman C. Wedemeyer is especially interested in educa- tion. A Republican in politics, he has served as school director for several terms, and during his life in Audubon township has done everything possi- ble to raise the educational standard of the public schools. He has done much in behalf of the public weal, and is popular in the neighborhood where he lives.
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