BIERMAN, Frank Rudolph - 1914

BIERMAN, PLOGA, MONTAGNE, CUMMINGS, STRICKLER, DISCHER, BOOTHBY, ROGERS, HOLDORF, PAULSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/1/2009 at 12:56:28

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

FRANK RUDOLPH BIERMAN.

There is no section of all this great country which offers better opportunities to the agriculturist than the state of Iowa, with its broad prairies, its soil, naturally rich and productive, responding in generous harvests to the care and labor bestowed upon it. Among the most successful of the citizens of the state are those who have chosen to engage in farming, to which class belonged Frank Rudolph Bierman. More than a century ago George Washington said that "agriculture is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man." It was to the work of tilling the soil that Frank R. Bierman devoted his energies until within a few months of his death. He was born in Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa, March 30, 1857, and was a son of Frank and Elizabeth (Ploega) Bierman, both of whom were natives of Westphalia, Germany. The father was a wood turner, and, coming to the United States, settled in Galena, Illinois, while later he removed from that state to Iowa, establishing his home in Lyons. At length he retired from active business and in 1899 came to Cherokee, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in March, 1912. His wife had died in Cherokee county when on a visit in 1887, so that he survived her for a quarter of a century. In politics he was a democrat and both were members of the Catholic church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bierman were born six children: Margaret, the wife of John Montagne, living in Tilden township; Joseph, a resident of the same township; Frank R., whose name introduces this record; Caroline, the wife of Orrin Cummings, of Pierson, Iowa; Mary, the widow of Reuben Strickler and a resident of Laramie, Wyoming; and Phillip, whose home is in Washta, Iowa.

In the schools of his native county Frank R. Bierman pursued his education, mastering the branches of learning therein taught and thus qualifying for lifes practical and responsible duties. He learned the wood turners trade in his youth and followed it until he had attained his majority, when he came to Cherokee county and purchased a farm in Tilden township. He at once began to till the soil and to his farm added many improvements and modern accessories. He converted the place into richly cultivated fields, from which he annually gathered golden harvests. The sale of his crops brought him a substantial financial return and his accumulations year by year at length made him the possessor of a handsome competence, which enabled him to retire from business cares in 1910. He then removed to Cherokee where he died on the 23d of August, 1911.

It was on the 23d of October, 1884, that Mr. Bierman was united in marriage to Miss Mary Discher, a daughter of Christopher and Ingerburg (Paulson) Discher, of Tilden township, this county. The father was born in the northern part of Schleswig, Germany, and the mothers birth occurred in the same locality. Their youthful days were spent there and they pursued their education in the public schools. The father became a farmer and after crossing the Atlantic to the United States in 1874 settled in Ohio. He afterward lived for a time in Clinton county, Iowa, before coming to Cherokee county and he is now living retired in Washta, Iowa. Farming was his occupation while he was actively in business and the careful management of his interests brought to him the success which enables him to put aside business cares in later life. His political support is given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and which have brought him to a creditable and gratifying financial position. Unto him and his wife have been born six children: Catherine, the widow of Fred Boothby, living in Washta, Iowa; Mrs. Bierman, who was born in Germany, January 28, 1863, and was educated in that country; Paulina, deceased; Bertha, the wife of U. C. Rogers, of Washta, Iowa; Margaret, the wife of William Holdorf of Clinton, Iowa; and Paul, who is also living in Clinton.

Mr. and Mrs. Bierman became the parents of four children, Libbie, Paul Phillip, Louis and Glenn, all at home with the exception of Paul, who is farming in Tilden township. Mr. Bierman was identified with several fraternal organizations, belonging to the Masonic lodge, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he was a republican and was ever faithful to the duties of citizenship, being actuated in all that he did by a public-spirited devotion to the general good. His religious faith was that of the Congregational church and he consistently followed his professions, so that his well spent life brought to him the confidence and good-will of those with whom he was associated. He had many friends and those who knew him longest were his stanchest friends.