Leo Deichelbohrer

DEICHELBOHRER, GERBER, GROOS

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 8/27/2011 at 16:39:26

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

LEO DEICHELBOHRER.

The days pass busily for Leo Deichelbohrer, for a tract of one hundred and forty acres on section 32, Bellevue township, claims his attention, and the neat appearance of the fields, and the orderly and well kept buildings indicate a careful supervision and progressive methods in farming. As his name indicates he belongs to that nation which has contributed so much to the quality of American manhood, his birth having occurred in Baden, Germany, June 1, 1864. His parents, Carl and Mary Ann (Gerber) Deichelbohrer, were also natives of the fatherland, which remained their home throughout their lives. Indeed, Leo Deichelbohrer was the only one of their six children to cross the ocean and seek a home in America.

Mr. Deichelbohrer was reared in his native land, acquiring his education in the public schools, and he remained at home until he was nineteen years of age, when, thinking to find greater opportunities for advancement in the new world, he left home and friends and sailed for the United States. He did not tarry in the east but made his way to Bellevue township, Jackson county, Iowa, reaching this locality September 1, 1883. He was alone, a stranger in a strange land, but he was not discouraged. With determination he sought and found employment as a farm hand and was thus engaged for seven years, when, in the hope of deriving fuller benefit from his labors, he rented the place on which he now lives. After three years, as the result of his diligence and economy, he was able to purchase this tract of one hundred and forty acres, which has been his possession since 1893. He has put up a number of good buildings and made other improvements indicative of his enterprise and good management and of the fact that he keeps abreast of the most up-to-date methods of tilling the soil. The greater part of his land -one hundred acres-is cultivated to its fullest extent, while the balance is utilized as pasturage for stock, Mr. Deichelbohrer engaging to some extent in raising and feeding cattle and hogs. From all of his undertakings he has won a degree of prosperity that entitles him to be numbered among the substantial and representative citizens of the community.

It was in 1890 that Mr. Deichelbohrer was united in marriage to Miss Anna Groos, (Gross) who was born in Bellevue township, November 7, 1868. Her parents, Peter and Mary Groos, are natives of Germany and are now residing in Bellevue. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Deichelbohrer are nine children, namely: Leo A., Helen, Peter, Mary, Frank, Rufina, Anna, Josephine and Carl.

The parents are members of the Catholic church, in which faith the children are being reared, and Mr. Deichelbohrer belongs to St. Joseph's Society, an organization of St. Joseph's parish of Bellevue. He possesses the strong, rugged and persevering characteristics developed by his early environment, which, united with the determination to avail himself to the fullest extent of the opportunities of this land, have enabled him to realize the hope that led him to leave his old home. He has no reason to regret his removal, for in addition to the substantial success he has attained he has won the good will and friendship of a large circle, whose regard is bestowed in recognition of the sterling traits of his manhood.