J. FRED WESTPHAL

WESTPHAL, GREENWALD, PFUNDHELLER

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 5/16/2004 at 20:34:56

"Although he has been a resident of Adair county for less than a decade, J. Fred Westphal has gained a sustantial place among her best citizens and is now busily engaged in the operation and management of a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Summerset township. He was born in Germany, June 25, 1869, a son of Frederick and Frederika (Greenwald) Westphal, who, upon emigrating to the United States in 1870, established their home in La Salle county, Illinois. In 1883 the family continued their journey westward and settled in Cass county, Iowa, where they lived for about twenty years, subsequent to which time, or about 1903, they removed to Adair county, the father purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land in Jackson township, which he still owns although for the past five years he has lived retired in Bridgewater.

J. Fred Westphal was but an infant at the time the family made the voyaage from Germany to this country and he was a youth of fourteen when the removal was made to this state. He was reared to farm life and acquired his education in the district schools of Illinois and Iowa. When twenty-two years of age he and his brother Herman purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Cass county, although they cultivated their land separately. In 1895 he made further arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Martha Pfundheller, of Adair county. The young couple took up their abode upon Mr. Westphal’s farm in Cass county, where they continued to reside until March, 1906, when he disposed of his property there and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Summerset township, this county. In 1911 he made an additional purchase of eighty acres, located across the road from his previous holdings, so that he now owns two hundred and forty acres of well improved and valuable land. He is now devoting his entire time to cultivating his land and is meeting with substantial success in his endeavors. He is ably assisted in his work by his five sons, Oscar, Ralph, Lloyd, Frank and Clyde. In addition to his farm property Mr. Westphal owns stock in the Fontanelle Lumber Company and in the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.

Mr. Westphal’s study of the political questions and issues has led him to give stalwart support to the republican party. He has, however, never taken active interest in public affairs, the only office he has ever filled being that of school director. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. They are people of the highest worth and responsibility and their many friends are always sure of a hearty welcome in their hospitable home."

Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.