Joseph Irlbeck, Sr., 1899 Biography

IRLBECK, SPÄT, SPAET, MÜHLBAUER, MUEHLBAUER

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 11/11/2006 at 16:15:04

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:

Joseph Irlbeck, Sr.

This popular old gentleman was born on 11 April 1830 in Dening, Lower Bavaria. He attended school and spent the years of his youth in his home village. After completing school, he devoted himself to farming and worked on various farms until he was 23 years old. He then moved to Leming, and in July of 1853 Mr. Irlbeck married Miss Maria Spät [Spaet], and this marriage produced three children, although two died in childhood. The surviving son of this marriage is named Wolfgang, and he still lives in the old homeland in Bavaria. On 4 May 1859, Mr. Irlbeck had the misfortune to lose his dear wife, and after two years and six months, he married a second time, to Miss Magdalena Mühlbauer [Muehlbauer], a well-brought-up young lady.

Since the time of his first marriage, Mr. Irlbeck had operated his own farm, where he remained another four years after his second marriage. The couple then moved to Stagesried, where they took possession of a farm inherited from the young woman’s parents. The couple operated this farm until 1869, when they traded for a larger farm with more land in Warzenried. They lived here for many years until 1884, when Mr. Irlbeck immigrated to the United States to see for himself how the local area suited him. A year later, he had his wife and children follow to Eden Township, Carroll County, Iowa, and he then rented a parcel of land, and, in addition, he quickly purchased 46 acres. The family leased this farm for six years, and in 1890 they purchased a 240-acre farm in Eden Township, where the family still lives today. In 1898, they sold the first-purchased 46 acres. The Irlbeck family is very respected, and they observe the good, old German customs. They are also highly regarded and popular, and they enjoy an excellent reputation in the entire township. This very happy marriage has produced five children, one of whom is deceased. The names of the children still living are: Monika, who is married in Germany; Joseph; Engelbert; and Alois.