STUDER, NATHAN

STUDER, BOLINGER, SPANGLER, PAUL, IMERFALL, SCHULTE, REICHTSMEIER

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/19/2003 at 21:58:27

Biography reproduced from page 164 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Nathan Studer is one of the widely known and useful citizens of Wesley township, Kossuth county, in which he is one of the largest land proprietors and of which he has been a resident since 1882. He was born in Waterloo county, eastern Canada, December 17, 1850, and is a son of Amandus and Francesca (Bolinger) Studer, both of whom were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, France, the province which ceded to Germany in 1871. In that country they celebrated their marriage. Shortly after their wedding they emigrated to Canada, settling in Waterloo county, where they continued to live until the fall of 1869. The father then removed with his family to Stephenson county, Illinois, settling near Freeport, and in 1874 he removed to Ackley, Iowa, where he continued to live until 1883. He then removed to Kossuth county and located on the site, on which the city of St. Benedict is now located. He later retired from active farm life and established his home in Wesley and there lived until the close of his life, which occurred July 8, 1905. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed that business in his native country and also in Canada. On his removal to the United States he was thereafter engaged in farming during his active life. For several years he served in the French army under King Louis Philippe and during his life as a soldier he was engaged in one of the French wars. The mother died at St. Benedict; January 29, 1909. They were both loyal members of the Catholic church and their burial took place in the cemetery at St. Benedict. To Mr. and Mrs. Studer ten children were born: August, who lives in Pocahontas county, Iowa; Joseph, who makes his home at St. Cloud, Minnesota; Nathan; Teresa, the wife of George Spangler, of Wesley; Mary, who is the widow of Peter Paul, of Lena, Illinois; Nicholas, deceased; Amandus A. of Wesley; Gregory, who resides at St. Benedict, Iowa; Margaret, who became the wife of Frank Imerfall, of Stearns county, Minnesota; and Frank, whose home is in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Nathan Studer was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools of Canada and also in the schools of Illinois. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority and at that time he started in life for himself in farming on his father’s place near Ackley, in which occupation he continued until he attained his twenty-fifth year. He located in Prairie township, Kossuth county, in 1882, near the present town of Wesley. The land upon which he established his home was at that time unimproved. He at once gave his attention to the redemption of the land from its native condition and continued in its improvement and development until he brought his farm to a high state of cultivation. In 1898 he established his home in Wesley, where he has since continued to reside. He is the owner of fifteen hundred and fifty-six acres of land in Kossuth and Hancock counties and also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Stevens county, Minnesota, making him sole owner of over seventeen hundred acres of valuable agricultural land in Iowa and Minnesota. Mr. Studer in addition to his farming interests was one of the organizers of the State Bank of Wesley, which later was incorporated as the First National Bank of that place, and of that financial institution he has been president for the past ten years.

Mr. Studer was united in marriage in 1871 to Miss Ottilia Schulte, and they became the parents of sixteen children, eight of whom are living. Josephine, who was born November 5, 1872, entered the order of the Sisters of St. Francis of Milwaukee and is now known as Sister M. Bernadette. Edward A., born February 8, 1874, is engaged as railroad contractor in Canada for the past two years, but resides at Wesley. Henry, who was born April 11, 1875, passed away on the 31st of October, 1897. Emma F. is at home. Bertha F., who was born May 20, 1878, is the wife of J. V. Reichtsmeier, of Ackley, Iowa. Anna M., who was born February 29, 1882, and Clara O., born May 17, 1883, have both passed away, the former dying October 24, 1884, and the latter the day previous, and both were buried in the same grave. Frederick, who was born on the 30th of July, 1885, has also passed away, his death occurring in the same year. Ignatz and Joseph, whose births and deaths occurred on the 29th of April, 1886, were twins. Anton E., whose birth occurred on the 12th of May, 1887, resides in Canada. Clara O., born June 24, 1889, is in the same convent with her sister Josephine and is known as Sister Mira. Benedict G. was born November 1, 1890, and is farming in Prairie township. Isabella A., who was born February 20, 1893, passed away on the 7th of August, 1894. Julius P., the youngest member of the family, was born on the 1st day of May, 1895, and is still at home.

Mr. Studer has been affiliated with the republican party since 1896. He has served as member of the county board and was the first supervisor ever elected on the straight democratic ticket in his county. He has in addition to the above cited offices held several other important offices of public trust in his county. He also has the distinction of having been one of the leading spirits in the organization of the Catholic church of Wesley, of which religious body he and his family are devout members. Mr. Studer is one of the successful and useful citizens of Kossuth county and is a man well known and highly esteemed for the integrity of his character and his business ability throughout this portion of the state

Kossuth Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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