Jacob Wiewel, 1899 Biography

WIEWEL, SCHULTE, DISCHER

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 2/28/2006 at 23:33:46

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. Information in brackets and notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Jacob Wiewel

This old pioneer of Kniest Township was born in Bobenheim, [Rhineland-Pfalz], in the Kingdom of Bavaria, on 19 November 1843. After successfully completing school, he worked with his father in the country. When he was just a youth of 17 years, he sought employment on the railroad, and in 1866 he immigrated to America. On the 2nd of May, he landed in New Orleans and then made his way to Memphis. Entirely out of money, he fell ill in Memphis. A sister worked for a Jewish merchant, where Mr. Wiewel found a hospitable reception and received good care from the charitable people until he was fully recovered. He then went to Dunlit, Wisconsin, where he had relatives living. He worked on farms there until 1867, and then he went to Dubuque, Iowa. He worked there in a hotel for two and a half years. In 1870, he came to Carroll County, where he moved onto a 200 acre farm [in Kniest Township]. In 1871, he married Miss Lena Schulte, and they had three children: Maria, Mathias, and Lizzie. Unfortunately, his wife died after nine years of happy marriage. In 1881, he married Miss Katharina Discher, and the following children are the fruits of this happy marriage: Helene, Berhardina [sic], Johann, Katharina, Clara, August, and Wendelin. Mr. Wiewel is a hard-working farmer and is popular and respected by all. He has a beautiful home and fine livestock.