HELLER, Jacob - 1914

HELLER, SCHMIDT, RUPP, FECHT, WERDLE, KOHNS, SWENSON

Posted By: Colette Miles (email)
Date: 6/26/2009 at 17:54:41

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914

JACOB HELLER.

Jacob Heller, a retired farmer living in Cherokee, was born in Germany on the 16th of November, 1835, a son of John and Mary (Schmidt) Heller, natives of that country. The father engaged in farming there until his death in 1842 and the mother afterward came to America, passing away in Wisconsin in 1898.

Jacob Heller was reared and educated in Germany and remained there until he was twentytwo years of age. He then crossed the Atlantic to America, locating at Galena, Illinois, where he worked by the month as a farm hand for five years. At the end of that time he moved to Grant county, Wisconsin, and purchased a farm which he operated and improved for eighteen years thereafter. He sold it in 1880 and came to Cherokee county, buying a tract of land in Rock township. With characteristic energy he began improving and developing this property and he carried forward the work of its cultivation for many years. His efforts were rewarded by success and in 1909 he retired from active life and moved into Cherokee, purchasing a comfortable home at No. 434 West Cedar street.

In Grant county, Wisconsin, on the 15th of September, 1863, Mr. Heller married Miss Mary Rupp, a daughter of John and Mary (Fecht) Rupp, natives of Germany. The parents came to America in their early years and located in Pennsylvania, whence after two years they moved to Grant county, Wisconsin. The father bought land there and operated it during the remainder of his life, dying in 1885. His wife survived him only a few months, her death having occurred in the winter of the same year. Mr. and Mrs. Heller became the parents of twelve children: Gertrude, the wife of John Werdle, of Cherokee; Henry, whose death occurred in 1909; Joseph, who makes his home in Helena, Montana; Frank, of Cherokee; Peter, a resident of South Dakota; Anthony, of Berkeley, California; Lizzie, who married Peter Kohns, of Cherokee county; Jacob, a farmer in this county; Theodore, who makes his home in Cherokee; Annie, the wife of Harry Swensen, a realestate dealer of Cherokee; Katie, who died August 4, 1908; and Benjamin, a shoe dealer in Decorah, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Heller celebrated their golden wedding September 15, 1913.

Mr. Heller is a member of St. Marys Roman Catholic church and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He has held various positions of trust and responsibility, serving as school director and road supervisor. During the thirtythree years he has resided in this county the weight of his influence has always been on the side of right and advancement and he has proved himself a worthy citizen as well as a substantial and progressive business man.