Schultz, Lewis F.

SCHULTZ, SEVERT, BOOKNEN, ROHRDANZ

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/20/2009 at 10:37:11

Schultz, Lewis F.

There is something fine and high in the German character, something of wondrous gentleness and keen appreciation of the beauty which life holds. In music the Germans have given the world a magic gamut of sound, from the soft lullaby of the young mother crooning to her pink-heeked babe to the mighty thunders of dynamic masterpieces. In art, the German school is easily first with the wonderful galaxy of painters and sculptors whose fame is as broad as the world, while in science and in literature, in poetry and in the sweet pastoral beauty of their folk lore the sons and daughters of the fatherland stand almost without an equal. And what father and mothers they make! What homes they build! What garden-like farms they till!

"This is a German settlement," we say, and behold! on every hand are clean, fertile fields, neat hedge rows, great barns bursting with plenty, grunting droves of fat swine and homes resplendent with good will, good health and honest contentment.

Lewis F. Schultz is a German, as is also his good wife. Their parents came to this country as raw emigrants, ignorant of its language, its customs and its vicissitudes, but by that inherent thrift and inborn ability to make any place home, they prospered and thrived until their efforts blossomed forth in broad farms and generous roof-trees, and in the happy and contented faces of American-born children and grandchildren. And from the first they commanded the respect they so well merited and when they journeyed onward into that dim and unknown vista which lies beyond the grave, they each left that void in the hearts of those who knew them, which the passing of a good soul always leaves.

Mr. Schultz was born in Pommerania, Germany, kingdom of Prussia, April 2, 1849, his father being Christopher C. Schultz and his mother Caroline (Severt) Schultz, both natives of the same place. The coming to the new land had long been planned by the shrewd old grandmother of the subject of this review, but it was not until in October of 1854 that the emigration was actually made. Landing safely in New York, the family, consisting of Mr. Schultz's father and mother and their children, the grandmother and two brothers of the father, came at once to Bureau County, Illinois, to which place two brothers had already come, and engaged in farming. In connection with this the father and brothers worked as carpenters, mostly in the building of barns for the settlers. In 1858 they came to Poweshiek County, Iowa, coming in the employ of E. P. Judd and Fred Mousley, two large landowners of the county at that time, and continuing to work for them for two years. At the end of this time, 1860, the father of the subject of this review started out for himself by purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land of his own. As his faithful wife had died in the spring of 1855, soon after coming to America, the grandmother, who was the father's mother, kept the house until such time as the sister of the subject became old enough. Thus it was that little Ludwig, now Americanized to Lewis, was practically without a mother's sympathy and care from babyhood, but he kept right on bravely facing each drawback or sorrow that came to him until at the time this review is penned his life is full of that sweet contentment which an honest and successful career holds in store.

It was in the fall of 1873 that he came to Jasper County and began farming. With some assistance from his father and father-in-law he purchased one hundred and ten acres of land which he still owns, and to this, as the fruitful years have rolled by, he has added until at the present writing he is one of the County's largest land owners, owning six hundred and eighty-seven acres of fine and valuable land besides other property of value. All his life he has been a farmer, .for he has that deep love of the German for growing things, but he has also paid considerable attention to stock raising.

Mr. Schultz is one of three brothers and one sister, of whom two are living: Augusta Booknen, wife of George Booknen, a farmer, was born in 1851. She died in 1895, while residing in Poweshiek County; Carl A., born in 1853, resides on a farm east of Grinnell; Henry H., born in 1854, died in Poweshiek County in 1883.

Mr. Schultz was united in marriage January 1, 1874, to Christie L. Rohrdanz, the daughter of John J. and Marie (Price) Rohrdanz, both of whom were natives of Germany. Her parents came to America in 1853, settling in Niagara Falls, New York, where her father was employed upon the first of the great suspension bridges ever built across the great gorge. It was here Mrs. Schultz was born, November 26, 1854. Mrs. Schultz is one of three children, all of whom are living: Marie, born April 9, 1857, is the wife of Carl Birkenholtz, a farmer of Jasper County; Fred, born in Jasper County, February 13, 1858, is a farmer and still resides in the County. Mrs. Schultz's parents came to Jasper County in 1855 after the completion of the big bridge, and there is much of romantic interest surrounding their early struggles. When they arrived in Jasper County, all the money they had in the world was the small sum of two dollars and a half, and some of this precious hoard was much treasured coins about which sentiment lingered. The country was new and more or less primitive, and hardships were many, but energy and courage conquered all, for after a long and weary struggle forty acres were secured and with this as a start they finally came to own over three hundred acres. The fathers of both Mr. and Mrs. Schultz served in the Prussian army. Mr. Schultz's father being a man of powerful build was guard of artillery, while Mrs. Schultz's father was an infantryman. During the rebellion of the provinces of Holstein and Schleswig, he was awarded a medal by the German government for signal bravery.

To Mr. and Mrs. Schultz have been born six children, all of whom were boys, and one of whom, Joseph Christopher, died in infancy; William Carl Henry, born January 4, 1875, in Jasper County, is a farmer and resides in the County; Walter Albert Lewis, born March 8, 1876, died November 9, 1905, leaving surviving him a widow and one child, a little girl, who died the following spring; Lewis Martin, born June 24, 1868, is a farmer residing in this County; Henry Fred Lewis, born April 12, 1882, is a farmer, also of Jasper County; John C., born May 9, 1885, is a farmer and resides in this county.

Mr. Schultz, while he has never aspired to or sought office, has served as township trustee one year, three years as township clerk, six years as assessor and four years as justice of the peace. At one time he was supervisor of roads. He retired from active life in the spring of 1910, since which time he has resided in Reasnor. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 277, at Monroe, and also of Company 26, Uniform Rank of that order at Newton. His sons are all members of the order, Mr. Schultz paying their way through. Both he arid Mrs. Schultz are members of the German Lutheran Church and are people of native culture and refinement. Their home life is rich in the things which make for real happiness. They are both vigorous, healthy and strong, their sons are settled about them on farms which they have allotted to them, they each have the love and respect of their hosts of friends. Kindly, simple hearted German people, they have read the riddle of true happiness aright and are living to enjoy the peace and plenty they richly merit.

It can be truthfully said of Mr. Schultz that he is a man of far more than the ordinary ability as a writer. His command of language is very fine, his writings showing a beauty and power that is rare indeed. The soul of honor, genial and original, his friendship and companionship is courted wherever he goes. He is one of the best known and best liked men in Jasper County. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 994.