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FRED HAMANN is one of the prominent agriculturists of Kane township, farming in section 13. He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, November 21, 1866, the only child born to William and Maria (Niemann) Hamann, both of whom were also born in that country, the father on the 9th of June, 1833, and the mother on the 2d of October, 1836. The family came to the United States in 1868, locating in Scott county, Iowa, and in the spring of 1869 they came from there to Benton county and rented a farm in section 12, Kane township, for four years. Later Mr. William Hamann bought the farm now owned and occupied by his son, a valuable estate of two hundred and eighty acres, and as it joins the town of Keystone on the north a part of the tract has been platted and sold for lots. Mr. Hamann had but fifty dollars as his capital when he arrived on American shores and he was a splendid type of the progressive German business man. He died on the 16th of January, 1901, but his wife still survives him and is living in Keystone.
Fred Hamann has spent the greater part of his life at his present home. At the time of his marriage in 1890 his parents moved to Keystone and he began farming the homestead for himself, and he has since remained there. He has erected all of the present buildings, and is the owner of a valuable and splendidly improved estate. In 1906 he was elected the treasurer of the Iowa Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company and is still filling that office. He has also served as a school director. He is both a stockholder and director in the Farmers Savings Bank at Keystone and of the Keystone Mercantile Company.
Mr. Hamann married on December 10, 1890, Albena Schluntz, who was born in Kane township December 23, 1865, a daughter of Carl Schluntz, whose family history is given at some length in the sketch of his son, Ferdinand Schluntz. The four children born of this union are William, Elnora, Edna and Arthur. Mr. Hamann is a member of the Democratic party, of Keystone Lodge No. 135, I. 0. 0. F., and of the German Lutheran church at Keystone.
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