Frank Flies, 1899 Biography

FLIES, KAUFMANN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/3/2007 at 18:59:20

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:

Frank Flies

Mr. Flies, a capable and successful farmer in Pleasant Valley Township, of whom the Anniversary Edition prints a fine picture, was born on 10 March 1842 in Assil, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. In 1850 his parents moved to America and settled near Port Washington, Wisconsin, where little Frank resumed his interrupted schooling. After his school years, he took up the plow and worked on his parents’ farm. After several years, the industrious young man made his way to Freeport, Illinois, where he found employment on various farms for seven years. On 21 November 1865 he married Miss Katharina Kaufmann, a virtuous young lady who was born on 7 October 1847 in Nabburg, Bavaria. The young couple then rented a farm near Freeport where they lived for three years, then they moved to Benton County, Iowa, where Mr. Flies purchased a 100-acre parcel of land. He later purchased another 40, and then another 80 acres. In 1880 he purchased 120 acres of land in Pleasant Valley Township [Carroll County], after he had sold the 220 acres in Benton County. After a year, they moved to the farm, at the same time purchasing another 80 acres on which a little house and stables were located. Mr. Flies later purchased another 40 acres of adjoining land, on which he built a fine and comfortable residence, as well as good stables and barns, where the Flies family still lives today. Soon thereafter, he purchased another 80 acres, then 40 acres, and then another 60 acres, so that, after selling 40 acres, his entire real estate amounts to 380 acres. In their younger years, Mr. Flies and his wife endured a lot of hardship. Through hard work and perseverance, they are now enjoying the fruits of their productive work. Fourteen children were the fruits of this happy marriage, four of whom are deceased. The names of the children still living are: Frank F., Maria, Theresia, Elisabeth, Johannes, Katharina, Margaretha, Helena, Anna, and Clara.