Charles Westphal

WESTPHAL, SPECHT, JEPSEN

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 8/24/2011 at 17:07:01

History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 2, by James Whitcomb Ellis, 1910.
Biographical Sketches

Charles Westphal

Charles Westphal, who owns and operates a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Maquoketa township, and one hundred and ninety-seven and one half acres in Fairfield township, was born in the city of Hamburg, Germany, January 24, 1869. His father, D. U. Westphal, was a native of the province of Hamburg, his natal day being January 11, 1837. In 1882 he emigrated to America, coming direct to Jackson county and settling in Preston, where he still lives. Until recently he was engaged in the furniture business there but has now retired from active participation in the mercantile world. His wife, who was Miss Fredericka Specht in her maidenhood, was also born in the province of Hamburg, her birth having occurred December 18, 1840, and she is still living.

Charles Westphal had come to America three years before his father, having made the journey in company with an uncle, Henry Specht. After reaching Iowa he went to Lost Nation, Clinton county, where he found work upon a farm, and then came to Jackson county, where he was similarly employed in the vicinity of Preston. In 1891 he bought eighty acres of his present farm and later, when he felt that his success warranted it, he doubled its area, so that he is now operating a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Maquoketa township and also owns one hundred and ninety-seven and a half acres in Fairfield township. He recently commenced raising shorthorn cattle, in the hope of making this a profitable adjunct to his farming.

It was in December, 1890, that Mr. Westphal and Miss Emma Jebsen, (Jepsen) a daughter of Gustav Jebsen, were united in marriage. Nine children have been born to them: Arthur, Carl, Matilda, Amanda, Albert, Leo, Raymond, Arnold and Harold.

Since he was admitted to citizenship in this republic, Mr. Westphal has given his political support to the democratic party, on whose ticket he was elected to the office of school director, fulfilling his duties in that capacity for two years. He has also served as township trustee. He has been very loyal to the country of his adoption, intimately identifying himself with public affairs with a view of advancing the interests of the community in which he lives. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in his daily life making every effort to put in practice its teachings.