USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 82
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Henry Pelzer came to Cass county and entered land on section 9, Noble town- ship, in the fall of 1869, and located on it in 1870. He was born in Germany in 1841. In 1842, his parents came to Amer- ica, locating in Erie county, New York, In 1857, he removed to DuPage county, Illinois, where he remained four years, and then farmed in Morgan and Bureau counties until removing to this county, in 1870. He was married, in 1870, to Sophia Wohlenhaupt. They have seven children- - George William, Caroline, Emma, Frank, Lewis, Emil and May.
One of the early German settlers was Gustav Rothe, who came in February, 1870, and located on section 15, where he has since made his home.
Gustav Rothe was the fourth German settler in Noble township, coming here in February, 1870. He bought the southwest quarter of section 15, unimproved land. He now has a good frame dwelling, stables, a grove and orchard. He has, also, a hedge of willow and Osage orange entirely around his farm. He was born in Germany, March 10, 1840. He attended school from the age of five to fourteen years. He then learned the blacksmith trade. In 1866, he came to America, and located in Chicago, where he worked at
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
his trade. There he attended school, for the purpose of acquiring the language. He remained in Chicago until he came to this county, since which he has been en- gaged in farming the greater part of the time. He was married in September, 1872, to Ellen Keith. They have five children living-Augusta, Harmon, An- drew, Bertha and Fred.
William Lindemann came in March, 1870, and bought eighty acres on section 11. He removed on to it the following May, and lived there till 1873, when he sold the place and bought two hundred and five acres of wild land on section 5, where he now resides. He was born in Hesse-Cassel, in 1846, and his parents came to America in 1853. He lived in Pennsylvania from that time until coming here. He was married in 1867, to Cath- erine Gerlach. They have seven children.
Christopher Muller can:e in April, 1870, and bought the northwest quarter of sec- tion 15, where he still resides.
Christopher Muller came to Cass county in April, 1870, and settled in Noble township, where he purchased a tract of wild land on section 15, but has since im- proved the land and planted a fine variety of grove and fruit trees. He has also built a frame house of considerable size, and has one of the finest stock barns in the township. He was born in Germany, on the 24th of January, 1817, and was reared on a farm until 1843, when he was engaged in the lumber business. In 1869 he came to the United States and located in DuPage county, Illinois, until the spring of 1870, when he came to Cass county as before given. He was married in 1843 to Anna Lühring, and by their
union they have four children-Henry, Dorethe, H. Christopher and William.
H. Christopher, the son of Christopher and Anna Müller, was born in Germany on the 26th day of January, 1852, and was educated in the schools of that country until fourteen years of age, and when sev- enteen years of age came to America and located in Illinois until 1872, when he came to Cass county, and has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising in Noble township. Mr. Müller was mar- ried in 1883 to Catharine Gorlach. They have one child-Walter.
Henry Müller came to Cass county in 1870, and he and his father bought wild land in section 15. This he improved, and in 1875 bought the farm on which he now resides on section 22. He now has good improvements, including substantial frame buildings, grove and fruit trees, with the land all under cultivation. Mr. Müller was born in Germany March 31, 1846. He attended school in his native country until fourteen years old, then en- gaged in farming three years, after which he served three years with a carpenter to learn the trade. In 1855 he came to America, landed at New York and went to DuPage county, Illinois, where he worked at his trade until 1870, when, as before stated, he came to Cass county. He was married in 1876 to Lizzie Ham- pel, a native of Pennsylvania. They have three children-Jacob, Otto and Ed- win. Since coming to Cass county, Mr. Müller has rented his farm and devoted his time to his trade. He has done much of the building in the township.
Michael Letz came in 1870, and located
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
on section 15, where he has since im- proved a good farm.
Michael Letz was born in Alsace, which then belonged to France, November 20, 1819. He attended school until fourteen years of age. When fifteen years old he went to Strasburg and lived with a physi- cian, driving his carriage seven years, and afterwards worked at a hotel. He lived in that city sixteen years, and then returned to his native village and in 1854 came to America. He located in Ottawa, LaSalle county, Illinois. Three years later he bought land in Eagle township of the same county, and lived there until 1870. He was married in 1841 to Elen- ora Loux. They have had five children- August, Henry, Matilda, Anna, and Louisa. Their son, August, enlisted in the Fifty- eighth Illinois Infantry, was wounded at Jackson, Mississippi, taken prisoner and. died in Libby prison. Mrs. Letz died September 7, 1878. Mr. Letz was again married April 18, 1881,to Mrs. Mary Rupp, a native of Baden, Germany, and widow of John F. Rupp. She had, by the first marriage, eight children-John Fred., Albert, Julius, Robert, Amelia, Mary, Bar- bara and Fredericka ..
Jacob Hempel came in 1870, and took took up his farm on the southeast quarter of section 23. He was born in Germany in March, 1833, and was reared on a farm in that country. In 1853 he came to America, locating in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. In 1868 he removed to LaSalle county, Illinois, where he re- mained till 1870, when he came to this county, settling in Noble township as aforesaid. He was married in 1854 to Catharine Gorlach. They have four chil-
dren living-Justus, Elizabeth, Catharine and George.
William Ackerman came to the town- ship in 1870, and bought land on section 9.
Christian Knoke came in 1870, and bought the southeast quarter of section 10, which he has since improved and ad- ded to.
Christian Knoke, came to Cass county, Iowa, in 1870, and bought the southeast quarter of section 10, Noble township. Since his purchase he has cultivated his farm, built a commodious house and has planted several varieties of fruit and shade trees. He was born in Germany, on the the 4th of April, 1819, and came to Amer- ica in 1851, and made his home in Liv- ingston county, Illinois, abont, six miles from Ottawa, and there resided until 1870, when he sold and came to Cass county, as before stated. Mr. Knoke was united in marriage with Wilhelmina Hinkel- mann, in 1842. Mr. Knoke is one of the prominent and substantial citizens of Noble township, and by his nobility and model character he has won the confi- dence of the people.
John Peltzer, John H. Ackerman, Ernest Dolch and George Gerlach also came in 1870.
John H. Ackerman settled in Cass county, in 1869, locating then near At- lantic where he . lived two years. He then, in company with his brother, Will- iam Ackerman, bought land on section 9, on which they erected a frame house. They divided this land in 1878, and John H. now has one hundred and thirty acres, all improved. He was born in Germany, April 28, 1852, and came to America when sixteen years of age. He located
Joseph Turner
6
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
in La Salle county, Illinois, where he re- mained until he came to Cass. He was married in 1879, to Sophia Westerwald. They have three children-Clara, Eliza- beth and Anna.
PROMINENT PEOPLE.
Among the later arrivals who have become identified with the interests of the township since coming here, are the fol- lowing:
In 1832, in Germany, John Meyer, was born, who appears as the subject of this sketch. He was raised to agricul- tural pursuits, and when twenty-one years of age he joined the army, and served about three years. He was married in 1860, to Mary Sholtz. They have been blessed with four children-Dora, August, John and Willie. Mr. Meyer came to America in 1868, and settled in Illinois, where he rented land, and there remained until 1876, when he came to Cass county, Iowa, and located in Noble township. In 1880 Mr. Meyer purchased his present farm, on section 11, where he has since erected a frame house, and has barns and sheds for the shelter of his stock. Mr. Meyer's family are members of the St. John's Evangelical church, of which Mr. M. is secretary.
William Kreitzberg owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in Noble town- ship, Cass county, and since his settle- ment there has planted a fine grove, built a frame house and has improved the land. He bought the land in 1876, and came here in 1880, and settled on his present location. William was born in Germany, on the 9th of May, 1832. His younger days were mostly spent in school, and when about fourteen years of age his
parents emigrated to America, and settled in Pennsylvania. Soon after his arrival there he was engaged in driving team in the coal mines, and was thus employed about five years, when he took charge of an engine for some twenty-eight years. He built a large frame house in the village of Hazelton, and there remained until coming to Cass connty. Mr. Kreitzberg was married on the 9th of October, 1852, to Anna Mary Schermer, who is a native of Germany. By this union they have been blessed with eight children-Martha, Mary, George, Rosanna, Lizzie, William, Cassie and Lewis. Mr. Kreitzberg is a good, substantial citizen, and is honored and respected by all who know him.
Fritz Saemisch came to this county in 1874, and bought two hundred and eighty acres of wild land in section 21, Noble town- ship. He has erected good buildings and planted fruit, shade and ornamental trees, and has altogether a desirable residence. He has added to his original purchase and now owns four hundred acres, all im- proved. Ile was born in Magdeburg, Prussia, September 23, 1835. His younger days were spent in attending school. The last year that he spent in his native land, he attended an English school to acquire that language. His father was a leading man in the city of Magdeburg, and took the part of the peo- ple in their contest for freedom in 1848, and was a member of the peace confer- ence at its close. The subject of this sketch was sixteen years old when his parents emigrated to America and settled at Farm Ridge, La Salle county, Illinois. They soon after moved to Livingston county, where they were early settlers.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
His father improved a farm in that county and is still a resident there. Fritz made his home with his parents until twenty-six years old, then settled on unimproved land, which he had bought two years previous. He improved this land and remained there until 1874. Mr. Saemisch has been engaged in farming and stock raising since coming to this county. He was married in 1863 to Eliz- abeth Eppelsheimer,a native of Germany. She died in January, 1883, aged thirty- eight. Ten children blessed their union, nine of whom are now living-Julia R., Clara L., Elenora, Mary M., Frederick C., Louis and Louisa, twins, Emma and Net- tie. He was again married in February, 1884, to Ida Krueger, a native of Prus- sia. He joined the German Evangelical association in 1864. He has been super- intendent of the Sabbath school for a number of years. He was school director in Illinois several years and has also fi led offices of trust in Noble township.
Joseph Eshelman came to Cass 'county in 1870, and spent fifteen months in the town of Lewis, when he went to Illinois, and remained in Carroll county until 1875, when he returned to Cass county and purchased land on section 20, Noble township. He has since erected a house and barn, planted a grove and fenced his entire farm. Mr. Eshelman is a native of Pennsylvania, born on the 26th of July, 1845. When quite young his parents moved to Carroll county, Illinois, where he was educated in the public schools and lived on a farm until coming to Cass county. Mr. Eshelman was married in 1863, to Julia A. Sarber, a native of Ogle county, Illinois. By this union there are
four children-Nora J., Eugene E., George E. and Hattie E.
John Bauerle came to Cass county on the 20th of March, 1875, and located in Noble township. In 1877 he bought some wild land on section 10, and since that time has made many improvements, having now a fine orchard, a grove and several fine farm buildings. Mr. Bauerle also owns a farm of eighty acres in Lin- coln township, which is nicely cultivated and produces abundant crops. He was born in Germany, on the 20th of March, 1852, and when six years of age came to America with an aunt, his parents having been in America some time before. He joined his parents at Chicago and re- mained there about two years, when his mother died and John was left with his aunt. They moved to La Salle county, Illinois, soon after, where he remained until coming to Cass county. He was married in La Salle county, Illinois, Octo- ber 16, 1879, to Sophia Hahn, a native of that county. They have been blessed with two children-Lydia and Charles.
Abraham S. Eshelman was born in Woodbury, Blair county, Pennsylvania, January 8, 1843. He is a son of Martin and Elizabeth (Stoner) Eshelman, both natives of Pennsylvania. When Abra- ham was nine years old, his parents moved to Carroll county, Illinois. Here he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the public schools. August 11, 1862, he enlisted in the Ninety-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, company I, and and served until the close of the war. He was discharged with the regiment, June 21, 1865. In 1863, the regiment was mounted, and did cavalry
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
service from that time. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and in North Carolina, participating in a number of battles of that campaign. He returned to Carroll county, after the war. In 1871 he came to Cass county, and the follow- ing year, purchased land in section 21, of Noble township. The place was then wholly unimproved. He now has the land under cultivation, a good dwelling, a grove, an apple orchard and small fruit in abundance. He was married in Septem- ber, 1866, to Mary A. Kingery, a native of Ogle county, Illinois. They have had- five children-Anna Drusilla, Raymond O., Eva E., Perry M., and Clarence F. Eva E., died at the age of three years. Mr. Eshelman was elected township clerk in 1872, and has held the office since that time, with the exception of one year.
Nicholas Blaser was born in Prussia, June 12, 1830. He spent the time from the age of five to fourteen years, in at- tending school, after which he was engag- ed in farming. In 1854, he came to Amner- ica, landed at New York and went direct- ly to Cook county, Illinois, where he worked at farming two years. He then went to La Salle county and remained two years. He next removed to Livingston county, where a few years later, he bought land, and lived until 1874, when he came to Cass county. He had, the previous year, purchased land in section 3, Noble township. It was wild land at that time but is now well improved and in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Blaser was mar- ried in 1856, to Anna Maria Steffens, also a native of Prussia. They have four chil- dren living-Francis, Joseph, Margaret and Anna.
Adam Wollenhaupt was born in Ger- many on the 18th of March, 1852. He spent most of his younger days in school, and when sixteen years of age he came to America, and located in Monroe county, New York, for a few months, when he went to La Salle county, Illinois, and there lived until 1875, when he came to Cass county. He purchased eighty acres of land on section 8, and at this time he has it all improved, and has planted a va- riety of fruit and shade trees. He has built a frame house and has one of the best set of farm buildings in the county. Mr. Wollenhaupt was married in Novem- ber, 1877, to Bertha Roasch, a native of Prussia. They have three children-Fred- rich, Lina E. and Walter F.
Francis J. Buschmann, pastor of the Evangelical St. John's church, was born in Pierce county, Wisconsin, on the 14th day of October, 1856. He received his education in the public schools until 1874, when he he entered the preparatory col- lege of the Evangelical Synod of North America, and there studied about two years. He then attended Missouri col- lege, at Hearthasville, Warren county, Missouri, and there remained until the spring of 1880, when he was appointed to a charge in Harvey county, Kansas, He there won the hearts of the people and was then engaged in preaching to the community the word of God until 1882, when he was installed as pastor in Noble township, Cass county, Iowa. He has here done good work to mankind, and is fast winning the confidence of the peo- ple. Mr. Buschmann was married on the 29th of September, 1880, to Miss M. Klee- mann, a native of Illinois, They had
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
two children-Frederich F., died in July 1882, and John Francis, now living.
John Hampel lives on the southwest quarter of section 24, Noble township. He purchased the land in 1878, which was at that time unimproved, he has now a large frame house, a barn and other out-build- ings. John Hampel was born in IIesse, Darmstadt, Germany, on the 20th day of November, 1830. His father was a tailor by trade, and after attending school about eight years'he assisted his father in the trade. In 1852, he left his native land and came to America. He settled in Ha> zelton, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in the coal mines, working as a miner about four years. Mr. Hampel was married to Elizabeth Ploch in February, 1855, and in 1856 he removed to Lightstreet, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he worked two years in the ore mines. In 1858 he bought a farm of thirty-three acres, and hired a man to work the farm while he continued his mining. He sold the above farm in 1863, and purchased eighty eight acres of land in Montour county, Pennsylvania, in 1866, and devoted his entire attention to farm- ing. In 1877 Mr. and Mrs. Hampel made a visit to Jacob Hampel, the subject's brother, in Cass county, Iowa, at which time he bought the southwest quarter of section 24, Noble township. Their visit lasted about three weeks, at the end of which time they returned to their home in Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1877 he sold his entire interest in Pennsylvania, and in the spring of 1878 he removed his family to this county, and commenced to improve his farm. He now owns two hundred and thirty-two acres of land, and
is raising large numbers of stock. On April 2, 1881, he lost his wife in death, he and eight children being left to mourn her loss. The names of the children are- Louisa, Elizabeth, Cassie, Emma, Caro- line and Pauline (twins), Annie and. Augustus. Mr. Hampel was married again, December 23, 1883, to Mrs. Mattie J.House- knecht, of Watsontown, Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Joseph R. Ketler, and late widow of Charles N. House- knecht. She has three children by her first marriage-Letta, Lizzie and Luther, all of whom are living.
Henry Kuester came to Cass county in 1872, and rented land for about two years in Noble township. In 1875 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land on section 17 of Noble township, where he erected a house and improved one hun- dred acres. In 1883 he purchased the Hayden farm, on sections 5 and 8, in all about one hundred and forty acres of im- proved land. He was born in Germany, October 29, 1847, and when seventeen years of age, emigrated to America, and located in La Salle county, Illinois. He worked on a farm for about three months, after which he rented land until he came to Cass county, in 1873. He was married in 1868 to Caroline Koehler, who was born in Prussia, October 1, 1843, and came to America when six years of age, and was reared in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Kuester are the parents of six children- Amelia, Dora, Caroline, Henry, Louisa and John. Mrs. K. has two children by a former husband, Philip Sinner, now de- ceased. Their names are, Conrad and Elizabeth.
August Berg, who was born on the 29th
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
of April, 1846, is a native of Prussia. He was there reared to agricultural pursuits, and was educated in the public schools. In 1867 he left his native land, and came to America, locating in La Salle county, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until 1871, when he came to Cass county, Iowa. He was united in marriage in 1872 with Anna Letz, a daughter of Michael and Leonora Letz. Four children have been born to them-August, John, Paul and Clara. On coming to this county, Mr. Berg purchased a farm on section 16, Noble township. He has his place now nicely improved, and has planted a large number of fruit and grove trees. Mr. and Mrs. Berg are members of the Evan- gelical Association, of which the former is trustee and Sunday school superintend- ent.
Herman Dolch came to this county in 1873, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 22, Noble township. He set- tled on this land, which was unimproved, in 1877. Since that time he has bought another tract of eighty acres, on section 23, and now owns a fine farm of a hundred and sixty acres, in a high state of cultiva- tion and with good improvements. He was born in Saxony, Germany, in Feb- ruary, 1849, and came with his parents to America when three and a half years of age. They went to Ozaukee connty, Wisconsin, where, four weeks later, both of his parents died. He was then taken care of by his grandparents, who lived in Ozaukee county, and remained with them until twenty-one years old. He went to La Salle county, Illinois, and stopped until 1873. In March of that year he went to Colorado, but remained only a few weeks,
and came back to Iowa, stopping in Cass county. He was un married at that time, and engaged in different pursuits until 1877, when he was married to Lonisa Letz, a native of Alsace, France. They have four children-Raymond, Ellis O., Edgar, and an infant.
George Eppelsheimer owns a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, in sec- tions 22 and 23, Noble township. He purchased his land, which was then nnim- proved, in 1874. He now has a substan- tial buildings, a fine grove, an apple orchard, and a vineyard containing four hundred vines. Mr. Eppelsheimer was born in the month of November, 1817, in Germany. He attended school until four- teen years old, then commenced learning the trade of cabinet maker. He was mar- ried in 1841, to Rosina Stoft. After his marriage he engaged in farming in the summer, and working at his trade during the winter season, until 1856. In that year he left his native land and came to America, landing in New York, June 6th, of that year. He settled in Livingston county, Illinois, bought land in Reading township, built a house, and engaged in farming, until he came to Cass county, in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Eppelsheimer have had seven children-Philip, Elizabeth, Mary, Peter, Margaret, George and Henry. George died in Illinois, at the age of seven years. Elizabeth was mar- ried to Fritz Saemisch, and died in Janu- ary, 1883. Peter was born in the same town as his father, December 3, 1848, and was eight years old when his parents came to America. He was reared upon the farm and received his education in the public schools. In April, 1878, he was
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
married to Lucy Rulig, and the follow- ing fall, settled upon his present farm in the southwest quarter of section 23. He has all of the land under cultivation, a fine grove and fruit trees. They have had three children-Rosa, Walter and an in- fant (deceased.) Henry is the only one born in America. He still lives with his parents. Philip was born in his father's native town, July 5, 1842,and was fourteen years old when the family came to Amer- ica, and settled in Illinois, where he grew to manhood, and made his home with his parents until his marriage, in November, 1868, to Elizabeth Turke, a native of Ger- many. He bought sixty acres of land in Reading township, where he lived until 1873. He then sold out and came to Noble township. He purchased the north- west quarter of section 23, where he now lives. He has a well improved farm of twohundred and sixty acres, having added one hundred acres to his original pur- chase. They have two children-George and Mary.
Simon Sundermann came to Cass county in 1875, and bought three hundred and forty acres of land, on sections 8 and 9, Noble township. He has improved his land, built a nice frame house and has made many improvements on his farm. He has some of the finest stock in the county, and is engaged in raising blooded stock. Mr. Sundermann was born in Germany, on the 14th day of May, 1824, and when four- teen years of age he was engaged in making brick, and following that occupa- tion for four years he then began farming- He was married in 1853, to Sophia Stok, a native of Germany. In 1854, Mr. Sun- dermann came to America, and settled in
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