John Sextro, 1899 Biography

SEXTRO, MESCHER

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 12/3/2006 at 19:58:37

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:

John Sextro

Mr. Sextro is a friendly Oldenburger and was born in the parish of Dinklage on 26 April 1863. He spent the years of his youth and attended school in his home village, and after he had obtained the necessary education, he became a farmer and worked on various farms until his 17th year. He then carried out his long-held plan and immigrated to America. Arriving in the United States of North America, he first made his way to St. Louis, where two brothers and a sister lived. He then moved to Carroll County, Iowa, where he again worked for three years on various farms. On 10 February 1885, Mr. Sextro married Miss Katharina Mescher, a well-brought-up lady, and then the young couple moved for a year to a farm in Washington Township. They then moved to the farm of John Herbers in the same Township, and six years later to Eden Township, where Mr. Sextro purchased a 160-acre farm. They still live today on this fine, well-situated farm. Mr. Sextro is a progressive farmer, and both he and his wife are highly respected by all their acquaintances throughout the township. This happy marriage has produced five children, of whom one daughter died at a young age. The names of the other children are: Anna, Rosa, Clara, and Joseph.