Karl Neumayer, 1899 Biography

NEUMAYER, SCHMITT, FRIESHEIMER, LEIBOLD, TEGELS, THIELKE

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/15/2005 at 16:35:51

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:

Karl Neumayer

Mr. Karl Neumayer, one of the earliest landowners in Kniest Township, indeed since 1868, was born on 2 February 1812, in Bollenbach, District of Haslach, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany. Until he was 12 years old, he went to school from his parents’ house, and then he was hired out to others to earn a living, and at first still attended school as well, and so served until he was 19 years old, when he returned again to his parents. At the age of 21, he took over the management of his parents’ farm, and operated it until he was 35. In March 1834, he married Miss Ludgardis Schmitt, a fine young lady. In 1847, he purchased a farm in Welschenteiner, but sold it again in the same year for a large profit. Beginning in 1848, he operated an inn [possibly tavern] for four years in Mühlenbach, Baden. He sold it in 1852 and moved with his family to the United States of North America. At first, he lived two and a half years in Poughkeepsie, New York, and then 17 and a half years on a farm in Ottawa, Illinois. In 1872, he moved onto a 320-acre farm in Kniest Township, Carroll County, Iowa. He transferred half of it to his son Lucas, and stayed with his son Friedolin, called Fred for short. In the course of time, these two purchased another adjoining section of land, which is now under Friedolin’s management, is in good cultivation and improvement, and is equipped with fine buildings, an orchard, woodlands, a large livestock population, and so forth. On 21 October 1889, “Vater Neumayer” lost his dear life’s companion through death. Their happy marriage produced 12 children, seven of whom, however, have passed away. Those children still living are: Lukas, now in Tilden, Nebraska; Clara, now Mrs. Friesheimer; Sophie, now Mrs. Leibold; both in Ottawa, Illinois; Helena, Mrs. Tegels, and her twin brother Friedolin. The latter has managed the Neumayer property since 1888 with good success. He was born on 15 August 1855 in Poughkeepsie, New York, has lived his whole life with his parents, and received his upbringing in the country near Ottawa, Illinois. On 30 October 1888, he married Miss Josephine Thielke, a very respected young lady, and this marriage has produced five sons, one of whom died as an infant. The names of the still living children are Charles A., Joseph R., Albert F., and Leo W.