Philip Lenz, 1899 Biography

LENZ, LEISEN, WALZ, WIENEMANN, OBRIEN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/18/2006 at 19:08:16

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 Lenz

The bearer of this name has lived in Carroll County for 21 years and has experienced the wonderful development of our county first hand. He and his family are therefore known in the entire county, and they enjoy a fine reputation. Mr. Philip Lenz was born in Gmünd [Gmuend], Rhine Province, Germany on 27 January 1839. After his school years, he devoted himself to farming. In 1862 his parents immigrated to America and moved to Mendota, Illinois. In 1865 Mr. Lenz worked at farming for himself, and on 2 July 1866 he took a wife, Miss Anna Leisen. The young couple lived on a rented farm for 12 years, and in 1878 they moved to Carroll Township [now Maple River Township], Carroll County, Iowa. Here, Mr. Lenz purchased a beautiful 160-acre piece of land, which was later equipped with a fine residence and other good, solid buildings. This happy marriage produced eight children, four sons and four daughters, and they are: Maria, married to Mr. Wm. Wahl; Katharina, married to Mr. John O’Brien; Henry, married to Miss Franziska Wienemann; Johann, married to Miss Cunigunda Walz; Philip, assistant to the auditor of Carroll County; Luzia; Anna; and Mathias.