WIESE, Joseph

WIESE, JOHNSON, MACHIER, PALMER, PEAL, DORMAN

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/19/2003 at 01:11:57

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

JOSEPH WIESE

This well-known resident of DeWitt is of German birth, and in his successful business career he has shown the characteristic thrift and enterprise of his race. Beginning with no capital except that acquired by his own industry, he became one of the most prosperous farmers of Washington township, and is now able to lay aside all business cares and enjoy a well-earned rest.

Mr. Wiese was born in Holstein, Germany, May 3, 1830, and there grew to manhood upon a farm. He was educated in both the German and Dutch languages. With the hope of bettering his financial condition he came to the new world in 1856 on a sailing vessel, which was seven weeks and five days in crossing the ocean from Hamburg to New York. During this time there was one very severe store, in which the ship was driven back nearly one thousand miles and the main mast was carried away. Mr. Wiese first located in Davenport, Iowa, where he arrived in June, 1856, and while there he was united in marriage with Miss Lena Wiese, a German lady, who had come to this country on the same vessel with her husband.

For one year Mr. Weise worked on a farm by the month, but on his removal to Clinton county, in 1857, he rented land in Washington township and operated the same with ox teams for seven years. He then purchased eighty acres of timber land in Center township, which he cleared an placed under cultivation. He erected thereon a little shanty, which was his home for five years. On the expiration of that period he sold the place and bought a partially improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Washington township. Later he purchased an adjoining tract of one hundred and sixty acres, making two hundred and eighty acres in this farm, on which he built a good house, barn and other buildings he also bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres adjoining the corporate limits of DeWitt, and here he has made his home since 1892. It is a well improved and valuable place, and its neat and thrifty appearance plainly indicated the progressive spirit of the owner. He had given considerable attention to raising and feeding cattle, horses and hogs, and is to-day one of the most substantial men of his community.

Unto Mr. And Mrs. Wiese were born nine children, of whom six are still living, namely: Emma is the wife of Christ Johnson, of Nebraska, and has eight children; Mena is the wife of Ray Machier, who lives on the old homestead in Washington township, and they have five children; Caroline is the wife of Fred Palmer, of Eden township, and they have seven children; Henry, a farmer of DeWitt township, is married and has three children; Tessie is at home with her parents; and Clara is the wife of William Peal, of Grand Mound. Doris, the first born, married William Dorman, by whom she had four children, but only two are now living. She died when about forty years of age. William died at the age of seventeen years. One died in infancy.

Politically Mr. Wiese was formerly identified with the Democracy, but of late years has supported the Republican ticket. He and his wife were both reared in the Lutheran faith. For forty-five years he has now been a resident of Iowa and has witnessed almost its entire development. He has seen wolves, deer and wild game of all kinds, but these have all disappeared, and where once was wild prairie there are now beautiful homes and farms. In the work of improvement he has ever borne his part, and in the development of two fine farms he materially advanced the interests of the county. He is well known throughout his community for his sterling character and worth, and is a man highly respected and esteemed by all who know him.