WARTENBE, John

WARTENBE, SMITH, SAWYER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/18/2014 at 01:03:56

Biography ~ John Wartenbe

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)) pp. 638-39

JOHN WARTENBE, deceased, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, June 1, 1829, a son of Joseph and Nancy (Smith) Wartenbe. When he was two years of age his parents moved to Williams County, Ohio, where he was reared. He was married at Defiance, October 20, 1850 to Sarah A., daughter of O. W. Sawyer. A few years after their marriage they moved to Iowa, and located in Decatur County, living in Decatur Township, one mile west of Decatur City, five years, and then moved to Burrell Township, to a farm on section 6, in the bottoms of Grand River, where, in connection with farming, he carried on a mill. He was a good business man, making a success of his ventures, but when still a young man, July 13, 1866, was drowned in Grand River, while trying to row a ferry boat. Mrs. Wartenbe still lives on the homestead, which contains 160 acres of valuable land. Her family consists of six children - Julia, Arthur, Edgar, Jay, Mary and Annetta.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014