Michael Nagl, 1899 Biography

NAGL, ZITZELSPERGER, ZITZLSPERGER

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 9/18/2004 at 15:40:49

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:

Michael Nagl

This gentleman has lived in Carroll County since 1876. He is a capable and progressive farmer who, through hard work and perseverance, has acquired a substantial amount of real estate. He was born in the parish of Kinsing, Lower Bavaria, on 9 July 1855. He attended school in his village, and when he completed school he learned the trade of stone mason and for a time took up agriculture. He worked in his old hometown until he was 21 years old and then carried out his long-held decision to immigrate to the United States of North America. Upon arriving in America, he made his way to Roselle Township, Carroll County, Iowa, where he found employment with a farmer. After a short time, he moved to Pleasant Valley Township. In 1878, he purchased 40 acres of land in Roselle Township, and on 11 March 1879, he married Miss Crescenz Zitzelsperger, a respectable and upright young woman. He moved with his wife to the farm, and the next year he purchased an additional 40 acres in the same township. In 1888, he acquired 240 acres of land in Eden Township. The extensive farm lies right in the corner of the township, near to Roselle and Newton Townships, with the tip bordering on Pleasant Valley Township. Therefore, we have also added the family, which is attached to the parish of Willey, to this [Pleasant Valley] township. [The biographies are listed according to township.] On the above-mentioned property, Mr. Nagl has built a beautiful house, to which he just added on this year, as well as good stalls and barns. Gradually, he has added another 120 acres, so that today he possesses 440 acres of real estate. The Michael Nagl family is respected and enjoys the finest reputation. This happy marriage has produced eight children named: George, Michael, Johann, Ludwig, Joseph, Maria, Katharina, and Frank.

NOTES: There was a village called Kinsing that today is part of Salzweg, just north of Passau, in southeastern Germany.