Theodor Wiskus, 1899 Biography

WISKUS, REICHER, TILLMANN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 2/23/2007 at 14:43:03

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

Theodor Wiskus

Theodor Wiskus was born on 10 January 1845 in Holsterbrick, Parish of Darup, County of Coesfeld, Westphalia. He spent the years of his youth there and received First Holy Communion in the local church. After he was released from school, he learned the trade of weaving and worked part-time at farming. In 1869 he immigrated to the United States of North America and settled near New Vienna [Iowa], where he worked for a time as a day laborer. On 16 September 1873, he married Miss Elisabeth Reicher, a virtuous young woman, and the marriage was performed by Rev. Father Conrad Schulte in St. Boniface Church. The young wife was born on 20 March 1853 in the Rhine Province.

Mr. Wiskus then began to work at farming, and he remained in the area until 1880. He then moved with his family onto a farm in Pleasant Valley Township [Carroll County], afterwards to another farm, and in 1883 he moved with his family to Roselle Township, where he again rented a farm and lived for seven years. In 1890 Mr. Wiskus purchased a 160-acre farm in Newton Township, and he moved there with his family in the same year. The farm is equipped with a fine residence and good stables. Mr. Wiskus and his wife and children are well-known everywhere and honored and respected by all their acquaintances. This happy marriage produced 11 children, namely: Theodor; Elisabeth, Mrs. Theo. Tillmann; Barbara; Franz; Rosa; Josephina; Johann; Maria; Anna; Joseph; and Katharina.