John Kerper, 1899 Biography

KERPER, WURZER

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/3/2007 at 18:44:44

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:

John Kerper

This man was born on 21 August 1861 in Röhl, County of Bittburg, District of Trier. He spent his early childhood there, and after he had attended school for about two years, his parents immigrated to America. They settled in St. Lucas, Iowa, and when their son John finished school, he also decided to become a farmer. He assisted his father in working the farm until 1879, when his parents moved to Pleasant Valley Township, Carroll County, where their son worked at assisting his father. On 16 October 1883, he married the esteemed Miss Maria Wurzer, who was born on 23 September 1865 in Winneshiek County. The young couple received a 130-acre farm as a gift from the young wife’s parents. Mr. Kerper now possesses 275 acres of land in Pleasant Valley Township, and periodically he has constructed barns and stables. In the spring of 1899, his residence burned down completely, but it was immediately rebuilt, larger and more beautiful than before. After 1891 Mr. Kerper ran a general merchandise business for his father, and he was postmaster in Willey for several years. He and his wife are known far and wide, and they are very respected by their acquaintances. Eight children were the fruits of this happy marriage, three of whom died at a tender age. The names of the children still living are: Theodor, Lorenz, Johann, Heinrich, and Maria.