Reuter, Michael

REUTER, GASPER, BURKEN, COSSMAN, TIMMER, BERDING

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/31/2003 at 02:01:27

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

Among the representative farmers of Waterford township is Michael Reuter, who was born in Germany, November 26, 1860, a son of Peter and Catherine (Gasper) Reuter, both natives of Germany, where they are now living, the father being engaged in farming. They were the parents of six children, all living in Germany, Rhine Province, with the exception of our subject, namely; Michael; Margaret, who is married; Christine; Joseph; Katherine; and Mary.

Michael Reuter received his education in the schools of Germany until thirteen years of age, when he assisted his father on the farm. In May, 1881, he sailed from Antwerp on the City of New York, and after a two weeks voyage landed in New York.
He made his way westward to Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa, where he obtained work for a week on the public road, then worked in a sawmill for four weeks, and then came to Waterford township, where he secured a position on a farm, remaining there five years.

On February 2, 1886, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Reuter and Miss Mary Burken, who was born in Clinton county, Iowa, March 14, 1862, and was the daughter of William Burken and Lizzie Cossman, both natives of Germany. The father came to America in the ‘50s and settled near Clinton, Iowa, on a farm, where he married. He moved to Waterford township in 1872, where he bought two hundred and ten acres of land, on which stands their present residence. Mrs. Reuter was one of a family of four children; Minnie, who married Barney Timmer, by whom she has eight children; Mary, the wife of our subject; and John, who married Katie Berding, to whom three children were born. The four children, with their families, are all living in Waterford township, on pleasant, well-kept farms.

After his marriage Mr. Reuter rented the farm now occupied by Mr. Schrader, upon which he remained for three years, after which he rented a farm of William Burken, which he worked for two years. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in sections four, five, eight and nine. To this he has added one hundred and thirty-five acres, and now has one of the most productive farms in the township. He has built a good residence, surrounded by substantial, well-kept barns and outbuildings, and everything around the farm bespeaks a careful and thrifty owner. He engages in stock-raising for market, dealing in all kinds of high-grade stock, and is well known as a progressive and energetic farmer. In politics Mr. Reuter is a loyal Democrat, and belongs to the Roman Catholic Protective Association and to the St. Joseph’s Catholic church of Sugar Creek.

Seven children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Reuter: Lizzie, born May 12, 1888; Minnie, born August 17, 1890; Peter, born July 12, 1892; Johnnie, born June 11, 1894; Verona, born October 21, 1896; Katie, born November 27, 1898; and Mary, born March 29, 1901.