Joseph Wessling, 1899 Biography

WESSLING, HOLTER

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/6/2005 at 22:02:26

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

Joseph Wessling

If one were to prepare a list of the old German pioneers of Carroll County, then the name “Jos. Wessling” would stand out with those in the first row, because the man has been in Carroll County now since 1871. It is, therefore, very natural that the name is known in the entire county and, what is very gratifying, is held in good repute. Mr. Wessling belongs among the most respected German-Americans and his entire family enjoys a great popularity. He was born in Coesfeld, Westphalia, on 4 December 1831. As a youth he worked on various farms until he was 22 years old. Then he became a soldier and served in the 13th Infantry Regiment in Wesel, which was later transferred to Münster. After serving as a soldier for three years, and after working another three years, he immigrated to America in 1861, where he first settled in New Vienna [Iowa]. After he had worked two years as a farm-hand, the desire for independence arose within him. For a long time already, he had known a respectable young lady, Miss Christina Holter, and he married her on 29 September 1863. He then rented a farm near New Vienna and after Mr. Wessling had successfully operated this farm for eight years, he came out here to the “west” and purchased a farm here in Kniest Township, Carroll County, where the respected family still lives today. Mr. Wessling is now the owner of 240 acres in Kniest Township and 320 acres in Ida County. Thirteen children were the fruit of this marriage, of whom, however, only the following [10] are still living: Helena, Johann, Elisabeth, Heinrich, Anton, Clara, Aloysius, Joseph, George, and Anna.