ERNEST BERNARD VOSS.
Among those citizens of Audubon county, Iowa, who are possessed of great strength of character and who have impressed their personality upon the community where they live, taking a full share in the building and development of the county, is Ernest Bernard Voss, of Exira, who is a well-known contractor and builder and who was formerly engaged in farming. He is a man of upright principles and has had a large part in the advancement of the community.
Mr. Voss is the son of John and Caroline (Ruff) Voss and was born at Strasburg, France, on January 24, 1864. He came with his parents on the steamship "Colorado," to this country, arriving at New York city, November 7, 1870. The family settled at Ground Point, Indiana, but, in February, 1871, moved to Homestead, Iowa. In December, 1876, they moved to Audubon countv.
In 1889 Mr. Voss purchased eighty acres of land in section 3, of Audubon township, where he lived for several years, improving the farm and developing it to a very high degree. In November, 1893, Mr. Voss moved to Exira and, until 1895, conducted a meat market at that place. He was town marshal of Exira for four years during his first residence in this city. Subsequently, Mr. Voss engaged, in partnership with John Peterman, in contract building. They operated a planing-mill and repair shop in Exira until 1906, when Mr. Voss moved to a farm in section 36, of Exira township, which he had previously purchased. Here he remained until 1908, when he purchased a two-hundred-acre farm in Eureka township, Adair county, Iowa. In February, 1911, Mr. Voss moved back to Exira and again engaged in contract building. He operates a planing-mill and repair shop.
On April 20, 1889, Ernest B. Voss was married, in Audubon township, Audubon county, Iowa, to Anna Petri, the daughter of John and Wilhelmina (Wagner) Petri. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. William Ehlers. Mrs. Voss died on July 2, 1909, in Eureka township, Adair county, leaving seven children: John Charles, who married Eva Van Slyke; William Henry, who married Leola Lair; George Charles, who married Evelyn Rendleman; Frances Mary, Martha, Clara and Mary, who are unmarried. The last two named, Clara and Mary, are twins. On January 1, 1912, Mr. Voss was married, secondly, in Stuart, Iowa, to Laura Eunice Wright, the daughter of Nathan and Mary (Harlan) Wright. The ceremony was performed by Rev. N. A. Hollingshead.
Mr. Voss has always been identified with the Republican party, and has been more or less prominent in local politics. In fact, he has no little influence in the local councils of his party in this county. Mr. Voss is a member of the J. C. Newton Camp, Modern Woodmen of America. He is an enterprising business man, a well-known citizen and has a host of friends throughout this and adjoining counties.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 852-853.
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