Philip Bernholz, 1899 Biography

BERNHOLZ, KASECKER

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/1/2006 at 00:04:43

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:

Philip Bernholz

Mr. Philip Bernholz may also be counted among the earliest residents of Carroll County, since he has lived in this county since 1870. He has always taken a prominent place among the German-Americans: for many years he was a township trustee, and he is esteemed and respected by his acquaintances.

Mr. Philip Bernholz was born on 2 September 1829 in Bonenburg, Westphalia, Germany. After successfully completing school, he assisted his father in farming. He then went to Horsbeck near Hagen, where he found employment for a time in operating a transport wagon. In 1851, he immigrated to America and settled in Freeport, Illinois. Five years later, in May 1856, he married Theresia Kasecker. Mr. Bernholz lived in Freeport for 18 years, and then he moved to Stands County, Minnesota, where he remained for two years. On 12 May 1870, he came to Carroll Township [now Maple River Township], Carroll County, Iowa. After two years, Mr. Bernholz moved onto Lambert Kniest’s farm in Kniest Township. After he managed it for two years, he purchased Henry Niemann’s farm, where he and his wife still live today. This happy marriage has produced five children, four sons and a daughter.