John M. Wernimont, 1899 Biography

WERNIMONT, PETERS, REILING, POEPPE

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/16/2006 at 15:58:13

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:

John M. Wernimont

Mr. John M. Wernimont was born on 6 February 1832 in Hopscheid, Canton of Kappelle, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. He received his youthful education in his hometown. At the age of 15, he learned the trade of stone mason. In December 1852, as an 18-year-old boy, he came to America. For two summers he worked at his trade in Chicago, and for two winters he cut trees for the sawmills in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Then he worked at his trade for three years in Dubuque, Iowa. On 26 October 1854, he married Miss Anna K. Peters. Then for 17 years he worked in agriculture with Kings and Fillmore in Dubuque County. In 1870, as one of the earliest pioneers in Kniest Township, he purchased 169 acres of land and moved there with his family in the spring of 1871. In 1876, he purchased an additional farm of 240 acres. In 1889,he purchased 320 acres of land near Worthington, Minnesota, where he lived for nine years with his wife and children. He transferred his local land to all his grown married children. In his time he worked a lot at his trade, and he has held official offices. This blessed marriage has produced 14 children. Those children still living are: Maria T., now Mrs. A. Reiling; Wilhelm G.; Wendelin; Lena R., now Mrs. Geo. A. Pöppe [Poeppe]; Theodor; Miss Anna; and Johnny.