John Henry and Emma Jeanetta (Herrick) Vorrath

VORRATH, MUELLER, GROWNEY, HERRICK, OCONNOR, HULL, SINNER, FORD, ESTELL, SIMONS, EBLEN, CRAMER, BEAMAN

Posted By: Peggy Elliott Webster (email)
Date: 2/15/2014 at 19:51:43

John Henry Vorrath, son of John and Anna (Mueller) Vorrath, was born February 9, 1858, in Long Island, New York. His siblings were Henry, George and Anna Growney.

Mr. Vorrath was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in his youth. When he came to Adair County, Iowa, at the age of 17, he had been a clerical assistant with a leading insurance firm in New York City.

On August 21, 1881, he was united in marriage to Emma Jeanetta "Nettie" Herrick who was born October 14, 1863, to James D. and Martha (O'Connor) Herrick. Nettie's siblings were George T., James A., Charles O., Florence Hull and Walter D. After James died Martha married Henry Sinner and six more children were born, Chris, Maggie Ford, Myrtle Estell, Millie Simons and Minnie Eblen.

John and Nettie established their home in Washington Township and farmed. Ten children were born to them, John H., George, Anna Cramer, Howard C., John E., Grace Beaman, Fred L., Walter and two children who died in infancy. The wife died June 3, 1905, and the following spring Mr. Vorrath retired from the farm to live in Bridgewater.

He served several terms on the board of education and town council, helped organize the Bridgewater Savings Bank in 1906 and then held the position of cashier for a six-year period until devoting full time to the insurance field.

John developed heart problems and died January 18, 1946. Both John and Nettie were buried in Garner Cemetery near Bridgewater.