Gottlieb von Glan, 1899 Biography

VON GLAN, GARRELS

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 5/1/2006 at 20:10:02

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:

Gottlieb von Glan

With special pleasure, the Anniversary Edition presents the interesting biography of this experienced and widely traveled man, who is indeed well-known throughout the county, and, he and his wife and children are respected and esteemed by all their acquaintances. Mr. von Glan is one of the most capable farmers in Carroll County, and through expert knowledge and hard work has achieved significant success. He is a successful cattle-breeder and conducts this branch of agriculture very profitably and on a large scale.

Gottlieb von Glan was born 26 July 1844 in Weener, Ostfriesland [East Frisia]. He spent his childhood in his hometown, and after he had completed the local schools, he went to work on an overseas merchant ship. He traveled with the ship from Rotterdam to Hartlepool, England, then to the south tip of Australia, then to the East Indies, and from there, the ship made the return trip home. He then worked for 10 years in various breweries, for example in Berlin, Lippe-Detmold, and Dortmund, and during vacations he traveled through the entire German Empire. He again crossed the ocean in May of 1870, in order to settle permanently in the United States of North America. He made his way first to Freeport, Illinois, and after a year he moved to Ackley, Hardin County, Iowa. On 12 March 1872 he married Miss Maria Garrels, a virtuous young lady, and after living there for two years, in the fall of 1873, the young family moved to Wheatland Township, Carroll County, where Mr. von Glan purchased a 160-acre parcel of land. In 1880 he increased his real estate by about 80 acres, and in that same year he took a pleasure trip to the old fatherland. Three years later he purchased another 240 acres situated next to the first-purchased farm. The extensive farm is distinguished by large, solid, and well-built buildings for cattle and produce, and is equipped with a comfortable residence.

This exemplary marriage was blessed with eight children, of which, however, only six are still living, named: Hermann, Wobina, Heico, Gottlieb, Maria, and Bertha.

Mr. Gottlieb von Glan is a 25-year reader of the “Carroll Demokrat” and an active member of the Demokrat Printing Company.