Hugo Klahn

KLAHN, HOFFMEISTER, BOETTGER

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 7/25/2011 at 16:49:09

Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Iowa, volume 1, excerpt:

HUGO KLAHN.

Among the younger farmers and stock raisers of Liberty township. Clinton county, who have made a success in life not because they have depended upon others for advice and to do their work, but because they have had the tact and industry to forge ahead despite obstacles and discouraging situations is Hugo Klahn, the representative of an old German family of sterling worth.

Mr. Klahn was born in Liberty township, this county, in 1873, the son of Ludwig and Mary (Klahn) Klahn, both natives of Germany, from which country the father came to America when twenty-two years of age and located in Clinton county, Iowa. The mother was nine years of age when she was brought to the United States from the fatherland, having accompanied her parents, who located in Clinton county. Iowa, in 1857, both families being early settlers. They began farming here and in due course of time, being people who were not afraid of hard work, they became well established and had comfortable homes. Ludwig Klahn, father of Hugo, became quite well-to-do, finally owning six hundred acres of very valuable land. He was a general farmer and stock raiser and a man of influence in his community, being highly honored for his exemplary character and his industry. In his family were seven children. The father was a Democrat and a Protestant.

Hugo Klahn, of this review, was educated in the public schools and was reared on the home farm, where he was put to work in the fields when a mere lad. He thus became acquainted with all phases of agricultural work early in life, and he has never cared to follow any other line of endeavor but farming. He operates now two hundred acres in a most successful manner, being a general farmer, and he also keeps considerable stock, which forms no small part of his annual income. He feeds a great deal of live stock for the market. He has an excellent place which he keeps well improved and he has a very substantial, cozy and neat dwelling and good outbuildings.

Mr. Klahn was married in 1900 to Agatha Hoffmeister, daughter of Carl and Dora (Boettger) Hoffmeister, both natives of Germany, from which country the father emigrated to America in 1865 and located at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained two and one-half years, then came to Wheatland, Clinton county. The mother came to our shores about 1875, making the trip to Lowden, Iowa, alone. Mr. Hoffmeister was very successful as a business man, having kept a saloon most of his active life. He is now living retired in Wheatland.

To Mr. and Mrs. Klahn two children have been born, Ludwig and Omer. Politically, Mr. Klahn is a Democrat and a man who takes a great deal of interest in the affairs of his community.