PETER TERNES, b 25 Nov 1836

TERNES, SHERIFF, WALLER, KLINE, CIMET, DEITCH, WAGNER

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 1/8/2005 at 09:44:22

Among the enterprising, well-to-do farmers and stock-raisers of Jackson County, one of the most prominent was the late Peter Ternes. During the late Civil War, he fought faithfully and efficiently for the country of his adoption. His father, Peter Ternes, Sr., was a Prussian by birth; his grandfather, who was also named Peter, was a farmer in Prussia, and there died. The father of our subject learned the shoemaker's trade, and followed it awhile. He also operated a farm that he owned until he left his native land for America, in 1851. After his arrival here he located in Washington County, Wis., near West Bend, where he bought a farm of eighty acres. He was one of the first settlers of that county, and aided in its development, and continued to make his home there until death closed his earthly career in 1877, at the age of seventy years. He was a Democrat in politics and a Catholic in religion. The maiden name of the mother of our subject, who was also a native of Prussia, was Margaret Sheriff. After the father's death she came to make her home with our subject, and died here in 1881, at the age of seventy years. Her father, Nicholas Sheriff, was born in Prussia, and was a life-long resident of that country. Five children were born to the parents of our subject: Margaret, who lives in Wisconsin; Mary, dead; Peter; Mathias, living in Montgomery County, Kas.; John, living in Minnesota. Mathias was in the 44th Illinois Infantry during the late war, and served from April, 1861, until its close leaving the army with the rank of corporal. He had both legs shot off at Vicksburg, and was then sent to Andersonville, where he re- a prisoner for eleven months. *

The subject of this sketch was born in Prussia, in the village of Osburg, Nov. 25, 1836. He was bred on a farm, and received a good common school education. He learned to make shoes, but did not follow the trade. He worked for his father in his old home until the spring of 1851, when he resolved to see what life held for him in the United States, the Mecca of his countrymen, and he went from Antwerp to Liverpool, where he embarked on a sailing-vessel, and thirty-six days later landed in Boston. From that city he made his way to Chicago, where he engaged in brick-making for two years. After that he went to Racine County, Wis., and worked as a farm hand in that region three years. In 1857 he came to Iowa, and rented land in Tete des Morts Township, the ensuing eight years. In 1868 Mr. Ternes invested the money that he had carefully saved in his present farm of 180 acres, on section 30, Richland Township. There were scarcely any improvements on it, but by years of persevering and well-directed toil he finally had it in a fine condition; 120 acres of it is under admirable tillage, is well fenced, and watered by Farmers' Creek. It has a fine orchard of 200 choice fruit trees, beautiful natural groves, a good vegetable garden, and a grapery of over 300 vines. Mr. Ternes erected an excellent set of buildings, including a conveniently arranged, good-sized dwelling, 24x36 feet, and a large barn, 36x76 feet. Mr. Ternes was a stock-raiser, having a fine herd of graded Durhams, and fed cattle, shipping a carload every year; and, besides, had Chester White hogs and ten draft horses, using two teams in the working of his farm.

Mr. Ternes was married in Tete des Morts, July 7, 1859, to Catherine, daughter of Peter and Mary (Kline) Waller, natives of Prussia. Her paternal grandfather, John Waller, was a farmer and a mason, and her maternal grandfather, Peter Kline, was a farmer. Her father came from Germany to America with his family in 1847, and settled in Tete des Morts, where he bought 260 acres of improved land, and in the same year, three months later, there closed his eyes to the scenes of earth. After his death, the mother carried on the farm until her death, in 1851, at the age of sixty-one. Six children had been born of her marriage: John; Catherine, wife of our subject; Mathias; Mary; Elizabeth; Peter, deceased, who was fatally wounded in the war.

Mrs. Ternes was born in Vocher, Prussia, on the 18th of October, 1818. She remained under the parental roof until her marriage, in the fatherland, to Franz Ginsbach, a German farmer. In 1851 they emigrated to this country, and located in Tete des Morts, where Mr. Ginsbach owned a 120-acre farm, and here his death occured in 1858. Seven children has been born to himself and his wife, as follows: Nicholas, a farmer in Sioux County; John, a farmer in Dakota; Peter, a farmer in California; Henry, a farmer in Dakota; Mary, the wife of John Cimet, of St. Paul, Minn.; Mathias, a farmer in Dakota; Elizabeth, who married John Deitch, a blacksmith in Cottonville. Mrs. Ginsbach was married a second time, to Peter Ternes. The marriage was blessed to her and her husband by the birth of three children - Peter, John, and Charles. Peter, a farmer in Richland Township, married Miss Mary Wagner; John is unmarried, and a farmer in Plymouth County, Iowa; Charles lives at home, and is engaged in farming near Cottonville.

Our subject enlisted in the 15th Iowa Infantry, Company G, in October, 1864, and was mustered into service at Davenport. His regiment joined Sherman's army at Chattanooga, and went with that famous general on his memorable march to the sea, and took an active part in several of the fiercely contested engagements of that campaign - noticeably the battles of Dallas, Resaca, Kingston, siege of Atlanta, siege of Savannah, etc. Our subject and his comrades were then ordered to Beaufort, S.C., and from thence to Bentonville, N.C., and Raleigh, remaining in the latter city until the close of the war. Mr. Ternes and the other members of his regiment were then dispatched to Petersburg, whence they went to Washington to take part in the grand review. He was mustered out and discharged in Davenport, Iowa, July 1, 1865, having proved himself a faithful and brave soldier.

The war record of our subject and his subsequent conduct proved him to be a desirable citizen, and he stood well in this community, where his home was for many years. He held local offices, discharging the duties thus devolving upon him in a creditable manner. He was constable two years, and has been Supervisor of Roads. He was interested in political questions, and used his influence in favor of the Republican party, which had no more faithful follower than he, and he served as a delegate to the county convention. In him the Catholic Church found one of its most liberal supporters.

The subject of this sketch died from an injury received by falling from a wagon at the city of Bellevue, April 23, 1889.

* Typed exactly as printed in original volume.

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