UHR, ANDREW K.

UHR, NARBO, MOLAN, VIGA

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/11/2003 at 18:04:33

Biography reproduced from page 414 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Among the prosperous and prominent farmers of Kossuth county is Andrew K. Uhr, who is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Swea City. He was born in Lee county, Illinois, July 22, 1870, a son of Knute and Mary Uhr, both natives of Norway, where they were reared and married. The father, who was a farmer, came to America in 1868 and settled at Leland, Illinois. He was employed on various farms in that vicinity and then purchased a farm, which he later sold, and removed to Lee county, Illinois, where he bought a farm of eighty acres. He lived on that farm until 1903, when he came to Iowa and settled in Eagle Grove. There he lived retired until his death, April 17, 1911, his wife having passed away many years previously. They were the parents of the following children: Johan, of Ottawa, Illinois; John, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Ole, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; Knute, of Cherokee, Iowa; Malinda, of Cylinder, Iowa; Belinda, of Fenton, Iowa; and three, who are deceased.

Andrew K. Uhr attended the district school near his father’s farm in Lee county, Illinois, and assisted with the farm work until he attained his majority. He afterward continued with his father for five years and then rented a farm in Ogle county, upon which he lived for three years and then purchased the old homestead in Lee county, where his birth had occurred. He lived on that farm for two years and in 1903 came to Iowa, remaining for six months at Story City and then settling in Kossuth county on the farm where he now lives, which he had purchased a year previous to his removal to Iowa. This farm contains one hundred and ninety-six acres which he has brought under a fine state of cultivation and upon which he has made good improvements. He engages in general farming and stock-raising, feeding as many as one hundred hogs per year for the market. He is a successful agriculturist and is well and favorably known in Harrison township, where he resides. He owns in addition to his land and a large amount of live stock an interest in the Farmers Elevator Company of Swea City.

On April 15, 1896, Mr. Uhr was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Narbo, of Chicago, and they became the parents of a son, Marvin Curtis, who is fourteen years of age and is living at home with his father on the farm. The mother died in Ogle county, Illinois, in 1901, and on August 21, 1901, Mr. Uhr was again married, his second union being with Miss Celia Molan, of Alta, Illinois, a daughter of Samuel and Olive (Viga) Molan, both natives of Norway. The parents were married in Illinois in 1875 and in that state the father devoted his life of the pursuits of agriculture, passing away near De Kalb. Mrs. Celia Uhr was born in La Salle county, Illinois, and is the second in order of birth in a family of three children. The other members of the family were: Claus, deceased; and Ole, a resident of North Dakota. To Mr. Uhr’s second marriage were born six children, all of whom are residing at home, namely: Clarence, Nettie, Selmer, Alice, Susie and Amos.

Mr. Uhr is republican in his political views, and both he and his wife belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church of Swea City, Mrs. Uhr being a member of the Ladies Aid Society. Mr. Uhr is well and favorably known throughout Harrison township and in Swea City, being regarded as one of the prominent agriculturists and business men of Kossuth county.