NEIBERT, Jr., William Henry - 1912 Bio (1860-1911)

NEIBERT, MACE, BRECKENMAKER, ELLINGER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/25/2007 at 15:12:23

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 220-222

William H. NEIBERT, Jr..

The recent death of William H. NEIBERT, Jr., cut short the splendid activities of a man who, in his occupation as blacksmith, belongs to that host of men who toil and moil in their round of daily labors, in order that the machinery of the world may be kept running smoothly and without interruption. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, April 22, 1860, his parents being William H. and Eliza (MACE) NEIBERT, natives of Maryland. His father was engaged in agricultural pursuits during his entire life, farming for many years in Maryland and later in Pennsylvania where he died in 1899. The mother passed away in 1873.

Remaining in Maryland until he was seventeen years of age William H. NEIBERT, Jr., obtained his education in the common schools of his native locality. He then went to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and learned the blacksmith's trade working there five years when he was married and located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in which place he conducted a blacksmith shop for a year. At the end of this time he determined to carry out his desire to go west and accordingly established his home in Monmouth, Illinois, but remained there only a brief period, resuming his onward march westward and settling in Kansas City, Missouri, where he plied his trade for a year. He proceeded from there to Fairfield, Iowa, in February, 1885, and bought out the blacksmith shop owned by William Swain, and in time built up a large and flourishing business, in which he continued to be active until his death on July 11 (sic - July 10), 1911. He was industrious in the pursuit of his occupation and personally superintended all the work done in his shop so that he was well known among the brothers of his craft and the patrons of his trade for his reliability and the high grade of his workmanship. No matter what business transactions he engaged in, he was always open and honorable and never failed to win the confidence of those who dealt with him.

The marriage of William H. NEIBERT, Jr., and Elizabeth E. BRECKENMAKER occurred on March 16, 1882. Mrs. NEIBERT is a daughter of Frederick and Leah (ELLINGER) BRECKENMAKER, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Pennsylvania. Her father crossed the Atlantic in 1835 when he was nine years of age and on their arrival in this country the family located in Baltimore, Maryland, where he learned the tailor's trade when old enough to work. He removed to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, after some years sojourn and there worked at his trade until removing to Hoguestown, Pennsylvania, where he opened a shop and soon became known as one of the first-class tailors in the town. Later he came west and opened a shop in Monmouth, Illinois, and after a time located in Emerson, Iowa, and worked at his trade. From here he came to Fairfield, Iowa, and made his home with his daughter, Mrs. NEIBERT, and at the same time conducted a tailor shop here until his wife passed away in 1902, at the age of seventy-three years. Left alone he returned to the old home in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and there operated a tailor shop until 1909 when he retired after his long continued labors and for the past two years has made his home with a son at Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, living a placid life and at the age of eighty-five years, still enjoying the vigor of his faculties, and passing his days in desultory occupations or in peaceful meditation, grateful for the loyal interest which his six children tenderly manifest towards him. There were seven children in the family, one being deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. NEIBERT had five children born to them, namely: Thomas Glenn, aged twenty-eight, and William H., aged twenty-five, partners in business, operating their father's blacksmith shop; Byron A., aged twenty-two years, employed in the automobile business; Frederick H., aged nineteen years, attending school; and Nellie E., aged sixteen, attending business college.

Fraternally Mr. NEIBERT was connected with the Odd Fellows, and the Masonic order, with the Knight Templars and the Modern Woodmen of America. He was an enthusiastic democrat and was popular with the local membrs of the party being elected to the office of sheriff which he held for four years, and also to the city council of Fairfield. In religious belief Mrs. NEIBERT and several of the children hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, which he also attended. Ever conscientious in his work, Mr. NEIBERT met with well deserved success and enjoyed a lucrative patronage in his trade so that he was enabled to leave his family well provided for, living in a handsome home at No. 406, East Lowe street, the house being built on a three-acre lot, and with its smooth well-cared for lawn and neat walks forms one of the attractive places in the residence portion of Fairfield.

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