Nanne Heuton

HEUTON, BEST

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 9/9/2004 at 01:23:45

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. Information in brackets and notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Nanne Heuton

This gentleman was born in Ludwigsdorf, district of Aurich, on 1 March 1847. He attended elementary school there and was confirmed in the parish church. He then took up farming and worked for two years on various farms. He then began service on a merchant ship and visited the inland [river] ports. He worked on various ships for three summers, and then he again took up the plow. But indeed, he had long entertained the idea of emigrating to the United States of North America, and at this time he carried out his plan. Upon arriving in America, he moved first to Adams County, Illinois, where he worked part-time for his mother and part-time for other farmers. On 15 February 1873, he married Miss Johanna Best, a well-brought up young woman who was born on 7 October 1850 in Wiesens, district of Aurich. Mr. Heuton then rented a farm and worked for himself for five years. During this time, he purchased a 160-acre farm in Sheridan Township, Carroll County, Iowa, where he then moved. In the course of time, he increased his real estate, so that he now calls his own 517 acres of the finest land. Mr. Heuton and his wife and children enjoy a very good reputation and are very popular. This happy marriage has produced five children, whose names are: Heinrich, Jakob, Johann, Maria, and Wilhelm.

NOTES: The towns mentioned are in Ostfriesland [East Frisia] a region in the northern part of Germany. At one time, they were part of Hanover. Aurich is about 20 miles due west of Wilhelmshaven. Ludwigsdorf is about five miles south of Aurich, and Wiesens is a few miles southeast of Aurich.