Prestien, Carl E.

MARTIENS, HEINE, STEVENSON, STENZEL, HATTENDORF, WILDHAGEN

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/5/2010 at 10:50:48

Carl E. Prestien, carrying on general farming and dairying on the old Prestien homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, Fremont township, was born in Cook county, Illinois, June 13, 1871. His father, Fred Prestien, was born in Germany, December 28, 1832, and when a young man came to the United States, settling in Cook county, where he worked upon a farm by the month in order to earn enough money to bring his parents to America. They afterward made their home with him until their deaths. Fred Prestien married Miss Amelia Martiens, a native of Germany, and in the fall of 1871 they came to Bremer county in wagons, he and his old father driving teams while the rest of the family made the journey by train. They located on one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 9, Fremont township. A small portion of this was broken and the buildings upon it consisted of a log house and a stable built of poles set in the ground and covered with straw or thatch. The father carried on the work of developing this property for many years, erecting a good home and a substantial barn, and he continued to reside upon his farm until he retired from active life and moved to Tripoli. Here his wife died December 21, 1907. Fred Prestien lived in Tripolli until his daughter, Emma, married, and then returned to the farm, where he passed away February 28, 1913. In his family were six children: Henry, who resides in Denver, Iowa; Minnie, the wife of John Heine, of Warren township; Carl E., of this review; Louise, the wife of Archie Stevenson, of North Dakota; John, of Fremont township, and Emma, who married Leo Stenzel, of Waverly.

Carl E. Prestien was only three months old when he came with his parents to Bremer county and he was reared in this locality, acquiring his education in the district and German schools. He has never left the homestead and is now the owner of this property, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres of fine land on section 9, Fremont township. He keeps his buildings in excellent repair and everything about his place in good condition, using only the most modern machinery and following the most effective and practical methods. Mr. Prestien specializes in dairy farming and has met with gratifying and well-deserved success. In connection with his farm he owns twenty acres of valuable timeber land. He is one of the most progressive and farsighted farmers of his neighborhood and gives evidence of his foresight in many ways, bringing not only his land to the highest state of productivity but also taking exacting care of his machinery and costly farm implements. He does not believe in leaving them exposed to the destroying influences of inclement wather during the winter and has therefore built one of the finest tool sheds in this state or for that matter in any state. It is twenty-four by fifty-four feet, the floor being made of cement and the building being excellently preserved, being kept under good paint and in the best state of repair. Mr. Prestien has found by experience that taking care of his machinery in this way is one of the best investments an up-to-date farmer can make.

Mr. Prestien married Miss Sophia Hattendorf, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, a daughter of Henry and Sophia (Wildhagen) Hattendorf, natives of Germany. Mr. Hattendorf has passed away, but the mother resides in Tripoli. Mr. and Mrs. Prestien have become the parents of a daughter, Lavera. The family are members of the Evangelical Association, Mr. Prestiens's father having been one of the founders of the Evangelical church at Tripoli and a trustee of the same for fourteen years. Mr. Prestien of this review has served as township trustee for ten years, making an excellent public record. He is interested as a stockholder in the Tripoli Implement Company. He has spent practically his entire life in this township and is widely known as a member of one of the representative families of the neighborhood, holding in unbounded measure the esteem and respect of his fellowmen and enjoying a reputation which places him among the most successful practical agriculturists and representative citizens of Bremer county.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914