JOHN ROHLF, b 5 Jun 1847

ROHLF, LUPKE, TEBBENS, INGLEKEN

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 10/9/2004 at 08:18:59

John Rohlf, a native-born citizen of Jackson County, is extensively engaged in raising thorough-bred stock and in general farming, and is numbered among the most successful of the intelligent, well-to-do agriculturists, who are advancing the material prosperity of Berry Township. He is of German descent, and his father, John F. Rohlf, was born in Hanover, Germany, Sept. 1, 1807. His grandfather, Christian R. Rohlf, was a native of the same province. He was a wealthy farmer, and in 1853 left the Fatherland for the United States, and settling in Missouri, near St. Louis, there spent his declining years.

The father of our subject received a superior education, and was destined for the ministry, but to a man of his active temperament a sedentary calling did not suit his tastes; therefore he turned his attention to farming. In 1839 he emigrated to this country, and after his arrival on these shores had money enough to take him to Chicago, where he found employment for the ensuing two years. He then came to Iowa, and entered a claim to a section of land, where he remained for a period of seven years, and at the expiration of that time sold his property, and going to Tete des Morts, purchased a section of land there, which he cleared and improved into a good farm. He engaged in farming there until 1860, when he went to Maquoketa Township, and buying a farm of 160 acres was engaged in agriculture there for five years. In the spring of 1865 he sold that property at a good profit, and bought land in Perry Township. He afterwards purchased land adjacent until he owned 320 acres of valuable farming land, and he speculated in real estate considerably with good financial results.

In 1873 Mr. Rohlf sold his first purchase of land, and bought 120 acres on section 6. He erected a commodious house, and otherwise improved his farm, greatly increasing its value, and is now passing his declining years in a pleasant home, surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries that heart could wish, and entirely free from care, as he rents his land, and has an ample income for all his needs. His has been a busy life, and at the venerable age of eighty-two years he can look back upon a long and honorable career that is without stain or blemish. He is an active member of the Lutheran Church, and a humble and consistent Christian. In politics he is an advocate of the policy of the Republican party. His wife, who is held in equal estimation with himself, was born in Hanover, Germany, Dec. 1, 1812, her maiden name being Anna Mary Lupke. Her father, who was a farmer, was killed by a runaway team. Mr. and Mrs. Rohlf have had six children born to them during their wedded life, namely: Christian, Caroline, Mary (all of whom are deceased); Henry, who lives in Andrew; John and William, living in Perry.

John Rohlf, Jr., the subject of this biographical notice, was born in Tete des Morts Township, Jackson County, June 5, 1847. He was reared on a farm, and received his first schooling in a primitive log schoolhouse, which he attended four winters. When he was eleven years old he became a pupil in the district school in Maquoketa Township, and continued until he was sixteen years old, when he came to Perry, where he attended the public school winters until he was twenty-one, and being a studious, bright youth, he acquired a substantial education. He remained an inmate of the parental household until he was eighteen years old, and then began in independent life, renting land, which he farmed, and besides, in the proper seasons, engaging in threshing and such work for others, wearing out three machines in the course of years.

In 1873 our subject bought his present farm, which then consisted of 200 acres of partly improved land. He has broken the most of it, having 180 acres under plow, and made all the improvements, excepting to build the house, which is a commodious, well-arranged structure, two and one-half stories in height, and 30x33 feet in dimensions. He has substantial barns for hay and other purposes, besides other necessary farm buildings, scales, windmill and tank. The farm is nicely fenced and is well watered by Farmers' Creek, and has fine native groves, and a good orchard of choice fruit trees. Mr. Rohlf has been so prospered in his enterprise that he has been enabled to increase the acreage of his farm by the purchase of 230 acres of land adjacent to his homestead. Besides raising grain he pays much attention to breeding stock, has a fine herd of thorough-bred Short-horns, while his horses are graded Normans and Clydes. He also raises a car load of Poland-China hogs each year. He has other property besides his farm, owning, with his brother William, a store building on Front street, Bellevue.

On the 1st of February, 1874, Mr. Rohlf and Miss Hannah Tebbens were united in marriage, and of their pleasant wedded life four children have been born, as follows: Annie, Elizabeth, Henry and Frank. Mrs. Rohlf is a native of Richland Township, and a daughter of Simon and Hannah (Ingleken) Tebbens.

Mr. Rohlf is a man of sterling worth, with a frank, genial disposition, and other pleasant social qualities. He is well endowed mentally and physically, is prompt and methodical in his habits, and is eminently deserving of the success that he has achieved ere his life has reached its meridian. He is deeply interested in the welfare of his native county and of the township of his adoption, where so much of his life has been spent, and he has borne an honorable part in the administration of local affairs, serving as Supervisor of Roads one year, and as School Director the same length of time. In politics the Republican party finds in him a faithful supporter. Religiously, both he and his amiable wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and its every good work meets with their approbation and cordial assistance.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)

Photo submitted by Ron and Jan. Jan is related to the Tebbens family.

Jackson Biographies maintained by Nettie Mae Lucas.
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