Henry Schoening

SCHOENING, DETHMANN, LAMMERTS, SCHRADER, MOMMSEN, SNECKLODT, WIESE, FRAHM, THIESEN

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 7/25/2011 at 10:59:02

Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Volume 2, Excerpt pages 1010, 1011, and 1012

HENRY SCHOENING.

A descendant of an influential old pioneer family, members of which have figured conspicuously in the affairs of Clinton county from the days of the early settler to the present time, is Henry Schoening, one of the thrifty citizens of the vicinity of Bryant, who, as his name would indicate, is of German ancestry, from whom he seems to have inherited many traits that have helped him to win in the battle of life.

Mr. Schoening was born in Clinton county, Center township, Iowa, on December 8, 1866. He was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools. He is the son of Frederick and Louisa (Lammerts) Schoening, both born in the province of Holstein, Germany, where they were married. Soon after he left his wife there and came to America alone, locating in Clinton county, Iowa. His passage was paid, but he had nothing left when he arrived here. He stopped at Lyons and took up employment at such labor as he could find to do. Wages were not high at that time, but he continued two years and saved his earnings until he had sufficient money ahead to send for his wife and child to come to him. After their arrival here he continued to work and as soon as he was able to buy a team he rented land and engaged in farming, continued renting for several years and then bought forty acres of timberland. which he lost no time in clearing and putting in cultivation. He prospered as he added to his lands and finally owned eleven hundred and twenty acres, divided into several farms, renting some and carrying on general farming on others. He raised, bought and fed numbers of cattle and gave all his attention to his lands and farming interests. When a young man he was stout and hearty and a hard worker, always conservative and careful in his investments and, with careful management, hard work and honest dealing, he created a large estate. He was a broad-minded and intelligent man and a good financier. He was a Democrat in politics and always interested in public affairs, though he never aspired to office. He was always charitable to the oppressed and needy and a good neighbor and friend. His honesty and integrity were above reproach and his word was as good as his bond. Both he and his wife were Lutherans in the old country, from which faith they never departed. The father was born on May 28, 1835, and died on April-18, 1908, aged seventy-five years. His wife still survives and resides at Lyons, where she has lived for fourteen years; she is in her seventy-sixth year, but well preserved, notwithstanding the hard labor and many hardships she underwent in the pioneer days. These good people became the parents of nine children: Lena, Mrs. William Schrader: Anna, who married Ingwer Momsen; William is a farmer; Fred lives on the old homestead; Henry, the subject; August is a farmer; Lizzie, now Mrs. Johan S. Snecklodt; Minnie, who married William Wiese ; Ferdinand, of Lyons, was a farmer, but is now retired.

Henry Schoening remained under the parental roof until his marriage in 1893, and then he rented a farm where he labored for two years, after which he rented a farm from his father, where he yet resides, the same consisting of three hundred and twenty acres. After the death of his father and the latter's will was settled, Henry had been given two hundred thirty-five acres of the farm, with the improvements thereon. The farm had a two-story stone house and one large barn. He has remodeled the farm and erected corn-cribs and another large barn for convenience and has made his house and home more attractive by cement walks around the yard and house, and the farm is well developed and under a high state of cultivation. He cultivates one hundred forty acres, the balance being in grass. In addition to his general farming interests, he carries on a large live stock business, feeding much stock of a first class variety for the markets. He feeds very large numbers of cattle and hogs, which have added much to his income. Politically, Mr. Schoening is a Republican, but does not aspire to office, more than minor township offices. He was reared by a good Lutheran mother, from which faith he has never departed. He is well known and commands universal confidence among his many friends and neighbors.

Mr. Schoening married Emma Dittmann, who was born in Hampshire township, this county, on July 2, 1872, the daughter of Claus and Anna (Frahm) Dittmann, he of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, she also of that country. They were married in the old country and came to America in 1870, locating in Hampshire township. He was a carpenter by trade. He had small means when he came to America, but by thrift and economy saved enough to buy two hundred acres of land, which he first rented, but later his sons conducted it. He never engaged in farming himself, but worked at his trade. He is a voter and is well posted in all business of the county and nation. He has never aspired to office, although he has served on the school Ixmrd and several other minor offices. He became well known and highly respected in each community in which he lived. Both he and his wife are Lutherans. He is now seventy-five years old, and his wife is sixty-three. They have retired from active labor and reside on the old homestead in Hampshire township. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dittmann: Minnie, Mrs. Adolph Thiesen: Emma, wife of the subject; Rudolph, a traveling salesman for farming implements; Herman is a farmer and lives on the home farm.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schoening, Alfred, Erwin and Laurina, all at home.