Henry Maas

MAAS

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 12:29:48

Henry Maas was one of the very successful German American agriculturists of Boone county, Iowa. For many years he cultivaed a profitable farm near Ogden which is now in possession of his widow. Mr Maas combined German patience and thoroughness with Amerian aggressiveness and by following modern and up to date methods and giving close attention to all tasks at hand gained success. He was born in Germany and early in life crossed tha Atlantic to American. In 1871 he came to Boone county, Iowa, and purchased land which he operated until his death. He transformed the wild prairie to richly bearing fields, and the appearance of his farm buildings betrayed his careful attention to the smallest detail of operation. He was ever ready to embrace the latest ideas and the most modern machinery could be found upon his place. He was rewarded by rich annual harvests and as time passed he became one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood.
In 1871 Mr Maas was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Ehlers ,a daughter of Mr and Mrs John Ehlers, also natives of Germany. The father conclued his days in the fatherland, and after his death his widow came to America and made her home with her daughter until she passed to her rewawrd in 1901. Mr and Mrs Maas had twelve children: Catherina, Johanna, Henry, Charles, Herman, Margaret, Lena, Marie, Edward and Wiliam. Two daughters Emma and Annie, died in infancy. For the past nine years Mrs Maas has made her home in Ogden, although she still owns the homestead. She resides in a fine modern brick residence in Ogden and his hgihly esteemed and respected in that city, where she has many friends.
Mr Maas was a member of the German Lutheran church. He was interested in all worthy projects and took a deep pride in the civic advancement of his section. He not only gained individual success but by his labors contributed toward raising agricultural standards and was a factor in raising Iowa to the postion of the most prosperous agricultural state in the Union. Mr Maas died in 1894, his demise causing sincere mourning to his many friends. He left his family in most comfortable circumstances, but their greatest heritage is the memory of his untarnished and honorable life.

1914 Boone County History Book