Lenz, Carl

LENZ, BLOOM, EXTER, SAAK, LUFF

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/14/2009 at 15:23:22

Lenz, Carl

Among the thrifty German citizens who have taken up their abode in Jasper County and have thereby benefited alike themselves and the community is Carl Lenz, farmer of Kellogg Township, who was born at Kroganke, West Prussia, Germany, October 13, 1864, the son of Ferdinand and Caroline Lenz, both born in Germany, the father on February 4, 1837, and the mother on January 11, 1842. Not being satisfied in the fatherland and most of his children being in the United States, Ferdinand Lenz came to our shores in 1894, he and his wife coming to live with their oldest son, Carl, of this review, who was farming the old Shuman place, three miles south of Laurel. After living on the farm six years they moved to Kellogg. The father's death occurred on February 5, 1904, and the mother is living with her two youngest sons, Gustav and Arthur, keeping house for them.

Carl Lenz grew to maturity in his native land and went through all the branches of the public schools there, attending school from the time he was seven until he was fourteen years of age. After leaving school he began learning the mason's trade, and in 1879 he immigrated to America with relatives. Locating in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he worked for some time in Plankington's Packing House, later worked in some of the famous Milwaukee breweries, but the work being too hard he was compelled to give it up. Money was then scarce and jobs few and hundreds of idle men were besieging the employment bureaus about the court house, looking for work, Mr. Lenz being one of the number. That was the latter part of December 1882. The subject decided to leave there and, taking the tracks of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, he followed them south to Freeport, Illinois, being compelled to ask for food several times on the way, and at night slept in straw-stacks. He found employment on a farm near Freeport and worked there six years, most of the time in the neighborhood of Eleroy. He saved his money in order to get a start, and in 1887 moved to Iowa and rented a farm three miles south of Laurel, Jasper County, for five years. Here he found hard work and often trying conditions to meet, but he persevered, refusing to be downed by obstacles. He moved to the E. P. Shuman farm, which he operated for eleven years, then purchased the place and is still living three miles north of Kellogg, having a good farm and a very comfortable home. He is carrying on general farming and stock raising successfully, keeping his place well tilled and well improved.

Mr. Lenz has been twice married, first on May 10, 1889, to Minnie Bloom, daughter of Gottlieb and Christina Bloom, of Laurel, Marshall County, Iowa. To this union one son and two daughters were born, who are living and one son, the oldest, died when six months old; John, Emma and Marie being the others. The mother of these children died on March 25, 1895 and on May 29, 1900, Mr. Lenz was married to Lena Exter, daughter of Anton and Friederike (Saak) Luff, of Stemmen, Lippe-Detmold, Germany. The following children were born of the second union: Adolf, Clara, Ernst, Louis and Eleanora.

Politically, Mr. Lenz is a Republican and he has always been interested in the development of his community along all lines and has proven to be a good citizen. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1069