Neverman, John H.

WENTE, SCHROEDER, BRUNS, HAGEMANN

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 12/11/2009 at 13:30:06

John H. Neverman, a prominent and prosperous resident of Waverly who is now spending the evening of life in well earned retirement, was for many years actively and successfully identified with agricultural pursuits in Bremer county. His birth occurred in Mecklenburg, Germany, on the 21st of January, 1844, his parents being Christian and Mary (Schroeder) Neverman. The year 1853 witnessed their emigration to the new world and for about three months they resided in Chicago, subsequently taking up their abode on a farm in Cook county, Illinois. In the spring of 1854, however, they came to Iowa, and the remainder of their lives were spent on a farm in Maxfield township, Bremer county. Christian Neverman had served as a soldier of the regular army in Germany.

John H. Neverman, the only child of his parents, attended school in Chicago, later continued his studies at a German institution in Cook county and subsequently pursued his education in the district schools of Maxfield township, this county. He assisted his father in the work of the home farm until the time of his marriage, one year prior to which important event he had taken over the management of the place. He eventually became the owner of the property, embracing two hundred and forty acres of land in Maxfield township, and likewise owned a farm in Fremont township as well as another tract of land in Maxfield township. For twenty-three years after his marriage he was successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits and at the end of that period retired with a comfortable competence, taking up his abode in Tripoli. In 1906 he came to Waverly and built a commodious residence at No. 121 North Aspen street, where he has since made his home. He erected a handsome business structure in Tripoli and gave liberal donations to the church there. Recently he has disposed of his farm land and has also sold his Tripoli property, thus freeing himself entirely from business cares.

On the 1st of January, 1869, Mr. Neverman was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Wente, who was born in Cook county, Illinois, on the 6th of September, 1851, her parents being Christian and Sophia (Schroeder) Wente, natives of Hesse, Germany. They crossed the Atlantic to the new world in 1848, locating on a farm in Cook county, Illinois, when Chicago was still but a village. Christian Wente came on foot to Bremer county, Iowa, selected a tract of land and walked back to Chicago again. In the spring of 1854 the Neverman and Wente families came to this county together, making the journey overland with ox teams. The removal consumed three weeks and they were obliged to subsist on corn meal and pork. The country was full of Indians and dangers, as well as hardships, menaced them. Eventually, however, they reached Bremer county and all settled in Maxfield township, Mr. and Mrs. Wente here spending the remainder of their lives, as did the parents of our subject. Christian Wente was a soldier in the regular army of Germany. Mrs. Neverman, the youngest of his three children, acquired her education in the German school in Maxfield township. Mr. and Mrs. Neverman have four children, as follows: Henry J., who is engaged in the automobile business at Denver, this county; Sarah, the wife of Henry Bruns, who was formerly engaged in the manufature of silos but is now practically retired, renting his factory to an Omaha concern; Herman, who was engaged in the mercantile business at Tripoli for several years and is now president of the Tripoli Bank; and Sophia, the wife of Senator Fred P. Hagemann.

Mr. Neverman is independent in his political views and has served his fellow townsmen in several positions of public trust and responsibility, acting as constable, justice of the peace, township clerk and school director for several terms. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, of which he is a devoted member. The period of his residence in this country covers about six decades and he has long been numbered among its successful, respected and leading citizens.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914