H. C. Wente

WENTE, SCHROEDER, NEVEMAN, MILIUS, GRAENING, MATTHIAS

Posted By: K. Armstrong
Date: 8/7/2007 at 18:54:29

H.C. Wente, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Bremer county, is living in Denver, after twenty-seven years' close connection with agricultural interests of the locality. He is president of the Denver Savings Bank and well known and highly regarded in financial circles. He was born in Cook county, Illinois, in 1848, a son of Christian and Sophia Wente, natives of Germany. After their marriage the parents came to America and in 1848 settled in Cook county, where the father purchased land and followed farming for six years. He then moved to Bremer county, Iowa, among the pioneers in this section, entering government land in Maxfield township. He engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years in that locality and died upon his farm in 1883. His wife survived him many years, dying in 1903. To their union were born three children: C.W., who passed away in 1902; H.C., of this review; and Sophia, the wife of J.H. Neveman, living retired in Waverly.

H.C. Wente was six years of age when he came to Bremer county with his parents. He acquired his education in the public and Lutheran schools and after laying aside his books assisted in the operation of the homestead. At the age of twenty-three he began farming independently and after his father's death came into possession of the homestead, which then comprised one hundred and fifty-four acres. After that time he added to it, gradually accumulating three hundred and thirty-nine acres. When he retired from active life he deeded two hundred acres of this to his daughter and sold the remainder with the exception of twenty-five acres, which he still retains. He makes his home in Denver and in 1902 assisted in the organization of the Denver Savings Bank, of which he has since served as president, William Milius being vice president and William Graening cashier. The bank has a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars and is ranked among the solid and substantial moneyed institutions of this part of the state.

In 1873 Mr. Wente married Miss Sophia Schroeder, a native of Germany, who came to America with her parents when she was still a child and settled in Bremer county. Mr. and Mrs. Wente became the parents of a daughter, Sarah, who was born in 1873. She married H.C. Matthias, of Waterloo, and they have four children, Bertha, Emma, Ernest and Hulda.

Mr. Wente is a member of the German Lutheran church and is a republican in his political beliefs. He takes an intelligent interest in community affairs and while he resided upon his farm held practically all of the township offices. During a residence of many years in this locality he has firmly entrenched himself in the regard and confidence of his fellow citizens and is numbered among Bremer county's most substantial and representative men.

--History of Bremer County, Iowa, 1914, Vol II, pp. 20-21

[not a relative]

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