Joseph Drees, 1899 Biography

DREES, WEGMANN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 12/3/2006 at 19:56:58

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. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Joseph Drees

This man was born in New Vienna, Dubuque County, Iowa, on 27 March 1856. He attended school there, and after acquiring a sufficient education, he made his choice and became a farmer. He worked loyally and industriously on his parents’ farm until the day of his wedding, which took place on 13 February 1879. The lady of his heart was the virtuous and well-brought-up Miss Elisabeth Wegmann. The newlywed couple then move to Eden Township, Carroll County, where Mr. Drees purchased a fine 160-acre farm, which he has worked with good success since that time. Unfortunately, he faced a difficult ordeal when his beloved wife was torn from his side by death. It was the hardest blow that could have hit Mr. Drees because the deceased was a true life’s companion to him and the most caring mother to her dear children. She died on 26 May 1890, after 11 years of happy marriage which had produced five children, namely: Johann, Elisabeth, Maria, Rosa, and Frank.