Henry Lehmkuhl

LEHMKUHL, BERG, MEYER, NIELAND, VOIGT, MITCHELL, WITT

Posted By: Anna Miller (email)
Date: 10/25/2004 at 11:19:54

SOURCE: JACKSON CO HISTORY 1910
HENRY LEHMKUHL

Henry Lehmkuhl, devoting his entire time and attention to the cultivation of the soil, in which line of activity he is meeting with gratifying success, is numbered among those representative American citizens who claim Germany as the place of their nativity, his birth there occurring November 13, 1847. His parents, George and Sophia (Berg) Lehmkuhl, who were also born in the fatherland, where they were reared and married. They came to America in 1857, the father passing away in New York state while he was on his way to Iowa. The mother with two children continued their journey westward, locating first in Jackson county, Iowa. Later she removed to Woodbury county, this state, and there her remaining days were spent. She was the mother of seven children, four of whom passed away in Germany ere the removal of the family to this country, while one son, Christ, died while crossing the Atlantic and was buried at sea. The two surviving members are: Henry, of this review; and Mary, the wife of Henry Meyer of Ida county, Iowa.

Accompanying his parents on their removal to America in 1857, Henry Lehmkuhl was a lad of ten years when he arrived in this country, and death of his father made it necessary for him, even at that early age, to provide for his own support. The fact that he was dependent upon his own resources, however, but served to stimulate his ambition and determination, for it is only through the stress of necessity that the best in one is brought out and strengthened. He obtained employment as a farm hand on various farms throughout the district, and during the winter months, when the work was lighter and he could find the time, he attended the country schools, thereby gaining a fair knowledge of the English language. He continued in the capacity of farm hand until twenty-five years of age and during this manifested those sturdy qualities of industry, frugality and thrift so characteristic of the Teutonic race.

When he felt that the capital which he had accumulated was sufficient to justify such a step, he established a home of his own in his marriage in 1873 to Miss Caroline Nieland, who was born in Germany on the 25th of June, 1857, and was one of eight children born unto John and Dora (Witt) Nieland, also natives of Germany. They came to America in 1857, locating first in Scott county, Iowa, and after four years spent there they removed to Clinton county. Later, however, they came to Jackson county and here their remaining days were passed.

After his marriage, desiring that his efforts should more directly benefit himself, Mr. Lehmkuhl purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Fairfield township, which he continued to operate for nine years, when he sold that property and removed to Ida county, where a similar period was spent. Returning to Jackson county, he purchased the farm upon which he now resides and his entire energies have since been concentrated upon its further development and improvement. The farm, which consists of one hundred and forty-nine acres, has under his careful supervision, been brought to a high state of cultivation, for he has made a close study of agriculture and is methodical, systematic and progressive in his methods.

With the passing of the years the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lehmkuhl has been blessed with ten children, as follows; one who died in infancy; John C. also deceased; Mary, the wife of Fred Voigt, a resident of Illinois; H. J. of Fairfield township of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume; Fred H. of South Dakota; Dora, the wife of T. I. Mitchell also of South Dakota; William J., living in Chicago, Illinois; Lena M., at home; Alma D., also residing in Chicago; and Martha W., still under the parental roof.

The parents are faithful and consistent members of the Lutheran church and are people of most excellent character, holding a high place in the regard of their fellowmen. In politics Mr. Lehmkuhl's views are in accord with the principles of the democratic party, and as a reward for his party fealty he has been called to office, serving both as township trustee and as school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm champion. Public-spirited in his citizenship, he supports many public movements which have for their object the general welfare, and he is deeply interested in all those things which pertain to the growth and upbuilding of the community in which he resides. Starting out to earn his own livelihood when only ten years of age, he has steadily worked his way upward in the business world, wisely placing his dependence upon the safe and substantial qualities of energy, industry and wise management, and today he is numbered among the enterprising and representative agriculturists of the township. Few men deserve in greater measure the proud American title of a self-made man.