Johann H. Underberg, 1899 Biography

UNDERBERG, KRIES

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 3/18/2004 at 23:33:50

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. I have not changed the place or name spellings, but I have added some explanations in brackets. There is also a photo that accompanied the article that I scanned and attached. It reads as follows:

Johann H. Underberg

Among the oldest settlers and most beloved German-Americans are Mr. Johann H. Underberg and his dear wife, of whom we present in another place [in this paper] an excellent photograph.

Mr. Underberg is a farmer who, from modest beginnings, with hard work and perseverance, and indeed often with hardship and the utmost exertion of his strength, has finally succeeded to the point where he and his true life’s companion may enjoy the fruits of his strenuous and productive labor in leisure. Since the year 1897, he has lived in friendly Mt. Carmel, where he purchased a fine home and leads a pleasant life with his good spouse, and if there is any difficulty in the life of this family, it is the frail condition of the old gentleman, who has been rather sapped of his physical strength for performing hard labor. We heartily wish the old gentleman and his faithful spouse a pleasant old age and the satisfaction of enjoying the health and happiness of their fine children for a long time to come.

Mr. Johann H. Underberg was born in Rasfeld, Westphalia, Germany on 21 March 1839. When he was seven years old he immigrated to North America with his parents, and they settled in Burlington, Wisconsin, where their well-brought-up little son Johann received his schooling. He then worked on his parents’ farm until he was 21 years old. During this time, his father passed away, and he and his mother moved to Galena, Illinois, where he again devoted himself to agriculture. In 1860, he and his mother moved to Sugar Creek, Clinton County, Iowa, where he rented a farm. On 1 June 1868, he married the respectable Miss Maria Kries, and in 1872, following the death of his mother in the fall of the previous year, the young couple moved to Sheridan Township, Carroll County. In the above-named township, Mr. Underberg purchased 86 acres and later increased the size of his farm , so that today his real estate amounts to 240 acres, including a fine residence and other buildings. This very Christian and happy marriage has produced 14 children, one of whom died at a tender age. The names of the children are: Valentin, Susanna, Bernhard, Johann, Franz, Wilhelm, Alois, Heinrich, Edward, Maria, Christina, and Joseph.