Esmeyer, Barney

ESMEYER, JOHNSON, MIDDLEDORF, LASKEWITZ, TIHSAN, MURPHY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/22/2009 at 13:45:57

Esmeyer, Barney

A wealthy man and a man of influence, especially among those of his own nationality, is Barney Esmeyer. Born in Holland on February 25, 1864, he came to the United States in 1892 with no capital except his two hands, and in the eighteen years that he has lived here he has become one of the wealthy farmers of his community. He was the only one of his family that ever left his native country. His father, whose name was also Barney, was a farmer by occupation, and died in Holland in the year 1900, at the age of sixty-four. His mother's name before her marriage was Nellie Johnson, and she departed this life in the year 1889, aged sixty-four. To this couple there were born six children besides the subject of sketch, namely: Minnie, who married Al Middledorf; John; Erades; Dick, who died at the age of thirty-two years, and Bertha, who married a man by the name of Johnson.

Barney Esmeyer, as stated above, was born in Holland in 1864 and came to the United States on July 4, 1892, on the vessel "Spwordan," landing in New York City. Later he came to Iowa and settled in Mahaska County, where he worked on farms by the month for two years, at the expiration of which time he came to Jasper County, and continued working by the month for James Tough for three years. In June 1907, he was united in marriage with Hannah Laskewitz, who was born in Buffalo, New York, on August 2, 1859. Her parents were also native Hollanders, her father having been born in the Netherlands. Two years after he came to America he met and shortly afterwards married his wife. It was a case of love at first sight. She had just come from Holland and had taken the train to Buffalo, and it was while she was getting off the train at Buffalo that Mr. Laskewitz first saw her and fell in love with her. He sought her acquaintance and in less than a year they were married. After their marriage they lived for a while in Buffalo, about two years, and then removed to Lancaster, where the father kept a grocery store. Later Mr. Laskewitz came to Pella, Iowa, and engaged in the same business, but about a year later he removed to a farm. Three or four years later he bought land in Richland Township and moved there. At the time of his death, which occurred on October 4, 1899, Mr. Laskewitz owned two hundred and thirty acres of land in section 31, Richland Township. He was seventy-seven years of age at the time of his death. Mrs. Laskewitz, whose maiden name was Jenette Tihsan, died in the year 1906, at the age of seventy-four. To this couple were born nine children, of whom Mrs. Esmeyer was the eldest, the others being as follows: Herman, who lives in Grinnell; Henry, living in Richland Township, Iowa; Jap, who died in infancy; John, also living in Richland Township; Alex lives in Newton, Iowa; Rena, wife Grant Murphy, lives in Oklahoma; Edward lives in Minnesota; and Nellie died at the age of three.

After the marriage of Mr. Esmeyer he rented a farm in Richland Township for a couple of years and then bought one hundred and twenty acres land near Killduff in Buena Vista Township. This land he sold three years ago, and two years later bought the two hundred acres on which he now resides.

Besides his general farming he raises cattle and hogs for the market from which he derives a handsome income. His farm is well improved and in a high state of cultivation.

Mr. and Mrs. Esmeyer are the parents of five children, namely: Dewey, born October 10, 1897, died in September 1902, of scarlet fever; Bennett, born December 31, 1899; Jennie and Edward, twins, born April 2, 1912, little girl dying in infancy; Nellie, born September 22, 1902, died September 15, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Esmeyer are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Pleasant View. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 828.