CHARLES STORM, b 12 Sep 1849

STORM, SOLA, GROW

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 12/26/2004 at 18:46:49

By a happy dispensation of Providence some men are adapted to one trade and some to another. Threshing has seemed to be principally the life employment of Mr. Storm, in which he is the pioneer in Van Buren Township, and which he has followed since a boy of sixteen years. He thus has a thorough understanding of the business, and has built up a fine list of patrons throughout this and adjoining townships. Personally, he is a large, fine-looking man, healthy in mind and body, and highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens. He owns and occupies a good farm of 160 acres on section 9, and has been fully as successful in the pursuit of agriculture as threshing. He has good improvements on his farm, a neat and commodious dwelling, tastefully furnished, and among its belongings is an organ, which is suggestive of the musical tastes of the family. His amiable and excellent wife is a portly, hospitable, and generous lady, who in the performance of her duties as a wife and mother, deserves more than a passing mention. Under these circumstances it is hardly necessary to say that theirs is one of the ideal homes which is so delightful to contemplate both by friends and the strangers who may be admitted within their doors.

In taking a glance at the parental history of Mr. Storm we find that he comes from excellent German stock, being the son of John and Mary (Sola) Storm, who were natives of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schewrin, where they were reared and married, and whence they emigrated to American in 1852. They first settled in Cook County, Ill., about eight miles from Chicago, where they sojourned one year, then removed across the Mississippi to this county, settling in Van Buren Township, where the father spent the remainder of his life. He died the 6th of March, 1876. The mother is still living, residing on the old homestead; she is now seventy-three years old. Their household consisted of four daughters and three sons.

The subject of this sketch was the fifth child of his parents, and was born not far from their own birthpace in Mecklenburg-Schewerin, Sept. 12, 1849. He was thus only a child three years of age when he crossed the Atlantic with them, and the scenes of his first recollections lie in the vicinity of Chicago, Ill., a region which then presented a vastly different aspect from that of the present. He was reared to manood in Van Buren Township, and educated in both German and English. When twenty-three years of age he was married, March 9, 1872, to Miss Dora Grow, a native of his own province in Germany, and who was was born Sept. 25, 1849. She came to America, with her parents when a maiden of sixteen years; they located in Van Buren Township.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Storm commenced the journey of life together on a rented farm, where they resided four or five years. In the year of 1877, our subject purchased that which he now owns and occupies. He had in the meantime, in the fall of 1865, begun running a thresher in company with Joseph Fox, and with the exception of five seasons has followed this continuously since, operating of course in the fall of the year. He now has his own machine, the second one which he purchased, the Miller New Model, a very popular machine, and warranted to turn out first-class work. He wore out a Sweepstake's machine entirely, and has threshed thousands of bushels of grain in this part of the county, and is a man prompt to meet his obligations, one whom the people can rely upon.

The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Storm were named respectively: Fred C., Charles G., and Hattie C.M. The eldest is sixteen years of age, and the youngest seven years; they live at home. The Storm homestead is provided with all the necessary buildings, there being besides the comfortable residence, a good barn 54x62 feet in dimensions; a corn crib 24x32; and a creamery 12x4 feet. Mr. Storm has given considerable attention to the breeding and feeding of swine and has excellent pens and outfittings for the successful prosecution of this industry. Upon taking possession of his land he found that it was very much run down, and has consequently been obliged to spend much time and money in bringing it to its present condition. He has besides this twenty acres of timber in Washington County.

Our subject with his wife and children are members in good standing in the German Lutheran Church, and in political matters votes the straight Democratic ticket. He has officiated as School Director in his District, also as Road Supervisor and is in all respects numbered among its useful and prominent citizens.

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