SADLER, John P.

SADLER, ROSCH, RETTER, BORECKE

Posted By: Nettie Mae (email)
Date: 2/3/2019 at 12:15:04

JOHN P. SADLER.

Since 1864 John P. Sadler has been a resident of Clinton county and was for many years actively identified with its agricultural interests, but is now practically living retired in the village of DeWitt, though he still owns two good farms within two miles of that place, which are operated under his supervision. A native of Germany, he was born in Luxemburg, November 7, 1837, a son of Nicholas and Anna Katrina Sadler, also natives of Luxemburg and descended from a long line of sturdy German ancestry. In 1854 the father brought his family to America, and on landing at Boston proceeded at once to Buffalo, New York, where they spent a few months, but later in the same year removed to Dubuque, Iowa, where the father followed his trade of carpenter for two years. He then purchased a home at Key West, three miles from Dubuque, where he resided for some time while working at his trade. Later he rented land and engaged in farming for several years. In 1864 he came to Clinton county, and purchased an eighty-acre tract of timber land in Center township, which he at once commenced to clear and improve, and to which he subsequently added until he owned two hundred and forty acres. He erected thereon a good house, barn and other outbuildings, and continued his residence there throughout the remainder of his life. He died in 1874 and his wife passed away in 1870, leaving three children, namely Theodore, a retired resident of Lyons ; John P., our subject ; and Elizabeth, who married Emil Rosch and lived for some time in Dubuque, but later removed to Lyons and from there to Council Bluffs, where her death occurred.

John P. Sadler was about seventeen years of age when he came with the family to this state and here he grew to manhood. Learning the carpenter's trade with his father, he followed that occupation for several years, and also assisted in carrying on the home farm. After his father's death he and his brother operated the place for several years, and when it was sold in 1888 he purchased a well improved farm of two hundred and forty acres in DeWitt township, upon which he made his home for four years. In 1894 he sold the farm and removed to DeWitt, where he bought residence property and has since lived retired, enjoying a well deserved rest. In the fall of 1900 he bought two hundred acres of land, divided into two farms, one of eighty and the other of one hundred and twenty acres, both improved with a good set of farm buildings. He now devotes his time to looking after and keeping up these places.

On the 27th of January, 1869, in Center township, this county, Mr. Sadler was united in marriage with Miss Anna Retter, who was born in Pennsylvania of German ancestry and died November 14, 1885. At an early day her father, Leonard Retter, removed with his family to Illinois, and later came to Iowa, being one of the early settlers of this county. Unto our subject and his wife were born six children, namely: Nicholas, who died on the home farm in September, 1892, at the age of twenty-two years; Teresa, who married T. F. Borecke and died in DeWitt, March 23, 1897; Maggie, who is now keeping house for her father; Elizabeth, also at home; Peter, who is now employed as a pharmacist in a drug store at Davenport; and Mary, who died at the age of eight years.

Mr. Sadler took out his naturalization papers at Dubuque, and cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, since which time he has supported the men and measures of the Democratic party, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. He was reared in the Catholic faith, and he and his family are connected with the church of that denomination at DeWitt. They are people of prominence in the community where they reside, and have an extended circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county.

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