FLINSPACH, Lawrence - 1890 Bio (1824-1879)

FLINSPACH, SCHMEZER, KANN, THOMPSON, DALLNER, GILBERT, DIERS, GORDON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/5/2007 at 13:49:31

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 590-591

Lawrence FLINSPACH, deceased, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, August 5, 1824, and died at his home in Buchanan Township, Jefferson County, Iowa, on the 5th of September, 1879. His life of fifty-five years, although quiet and unostentatious, was a useful and honorable one, such as to win the confidence and respect of those with whom he came in contact. He grew to manhood in his native land, laboring in his father's vineyard, and received a good education. About 1849 he determined to seek his fortune in the New World, and crossing the broad Atlantic, made a location in Cincinnati, Ohio, whence they made a trip to New Orleans, but sickness in that southern clime caused him to return to the North. Having remained in America for some three years, he once more crossed the Atlantic to visit the scenes of his boyhood and his kindred in his native land, but in 1855 we again find him en route for America. This time he sought a home further westward, locating in Buchanan Township, Jefferson County, where he spent the remainder of his life, devoting himself to the occupation of farming.

On the 14th of April, 1856, Mr. FLINSPACH was united in marriage with Miss Caroline SCHMEZER, a native of Grosgartach, Wurtemburg, born May 26, 1834. Her people were in limited circumstances, and she was therefore forced to earn the money to pay her passage to America, she making the trip in 1855. Both Mr. FLINSPACH and his wife were the only members of their respective families who sought homes on this side of the Atlantic. Upon their marriage they settled upon an eighty-acre farm and began life in earnest. By the untiring efforts of the husband, supplemented by the counsel and assistance of his good wife, their financial resources were increased, and they extended the boundaries of their farm until it comprised one hundred and ninety acres. A family of fourteen children came to bless their union, as follows: Mary, now the wife of John KANN, a resident of Buchanan Township; George, who died at the age of four years; Hannah, wife of Thomas THOMPSON, a resident farmer of Walnut Township, Jefferson County; Martin, who married Iowa DALLNER, and is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Buchanan Township; Fred, who married Jane GILBERT, and is similarly engaged; Anna, wife of John DIERS, a resident of Buchanan Township; Lucy, wife of Alex GORDON, who makes his home in the same township; Jacob, who died at the age of five years; Albert, Minnie, Gustave, Edward, Frank and Robert, the younger members of the family, are still at home.

As before stated, the death of Mr. FLINSPACH occurred on the 5th of September, 1879, from cancer. He was a very successful farmer, and his life was characterized by industry, sobriety and honesty. In politics he was a Democrat, and religiously he was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church. The FLINSPACH family ranks among the old established families of the county and deserves honorable mention in this volume. All of the children, from the eldest to the youngest, speak both English and German, and the sons who have attained to mature years, have followed in the footsteps of their father and are stanch advocates of the Democracy. The mother is also a member of the Lutheran Church, and is a woman whose friends are almost equal in number to her acquaintances.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.