Bernhard Thobe, 1899 Biography

THOBE, NIPPER, BENNE

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/12/2006 at 00:54:18

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:

Bernhard Thobe

And since this man has lived in Kniest Township for 25 years, he can also be counted among the pioneers of Kniest. He was born on 23 February 1833 in Oddrup, Parish of Essen, District of Löhningen, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. There he spent the years of his youth, and after his schooling he worked on various farms. In February 1865, he married Miss Maria Bernhardina Nipper, and then he worked on his own in farming until 1875. In that year, he moved to America with his family and settled in Kniest Township, Carroll County, Iowa, where he still lives today. A brother of his, who was living there since 1869 and was occupying an 80-acre farm, had died in 1874, whereupon Mr. B. Thobe took over his deceased brother’s farm upon his arrival from Germany. He added to his real estate from time to time, so that today he calls his own 280 acres of the finest land, which is equipped with large and substantial buildings, and which he has successfully operated with his children. He also has a large livestock population. The marriage was blessed with nine children, of which the following are still living: Anna, Mrs. Bernhard Benne, in Wheatland Township; Emma, a nun in the convent at Dubuque, Iowa; John; Joseph; Maria and Josephina.