Henry Stevens, 1899 Biography

STEVENS, PUETTMANN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 7/24/2004 at 14:49:45

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:

Henry Stevens

Mr. Stevens was born in Gutenberg, Clayton County, Iowa, on 29 July 1826 [probably a typo, see notes below]. Here he bustled about in his childhood, and when he was old enough, he attended the public school and later the parish school until he received First Holy Communion. Then, like his father, he decided to take up the plow and become a farmer. On his parents’ farm, he assisted his father in all necessary work. In 1876, however, his father sold the farm, and the family moved to Roselle Township, Carroll County, where his father bought a farm which his son Henry managed for the first year.

On 22 February 1877, Mr. Henry Stevens married Miss Franziska Püttmann [Puettmann], a well-brought-up young woman, and in 1879, he purchased a 160-acre farm in Eden Township where they lived in the following years. Gradually, he increased his property, so that he is now the owner of 294 acres of land, and the farm is equipped with good buildings and a comfortable house. There may be farmers who have more land, who in their greed can never get enough, and so consume their lives. Mr. Henry Stevens, however, is not among them. Even though he has a great deal of land, he is always friendly and courteous, and one can see in his face the happiness and peace that his family provides. He has a kind and loving wife, and thriving and healthy children. The names of the children are: Johann, Anna, Heinrich, Wilhelm, Franziska, Katharina, Elisabeth, Franz and Joseph.

NOTES: He was probably born in the mid-1850’s.