MELZ, AUGUST FREDERICK

MELZ, POHL, HEIDECKER, GREEN

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 12/30/2003 at 09:07:08

Biography reproduced from page 202 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

August Frederick Melz follows farming in Lincoln township, owning one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 5. He has been diligently engaged in the cultivation of this property for the past ten years, and that he is both efficient and capable is substantially evidenced by the appearance of his fields and condition of his buildings. A native of Germany, his birth occurred in Posen on the 20th of September, 1872, his parents being August and Wilhelmina (Pohl) Melz, who resided in the old country until 1892, when they emigrated to the United States, making their home with a son in Lincoln township. The father had always been a sheep herder and overseer. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Melz numbered eleven children, our subject being the second in order of birth. The others are as follows: Herman, who resides on a farm just north of his brother August; Charles, who lives in Canada; William, of North Dakota; Albert, who is a resident of Minnesota; Augusta, the wife of John Heidecker, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Mary, who recently made a visit to Holland; and four who died in infancy.

The education of August Frederick Melz was obtained in his native land. He emigrated to the United States in 1892, meeting with more or less difficulty in getting out of the country, having been detained for the usual period of military service demanded of every ablebodied male citizen, but which he managed to escape. Upon his arrival in this country he made his way direct to Blue Earth, Minnesota, coming thence to Kossuth county in 1897. For five years thereafter he farmed as a renter, meeting with such excellent success that he was later able to become a property holder. He has ever since been engaged in the development of his present place, on which he has erected all of the buildings and made various other improvements. He takes great pride in his homestead, and has worked tirelessly in its cultivation, his efforts in this direction being rewarded by large annual harvests.

In 1900, Mr. Melz completed his arrangements for a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Lena Green, a native of Germany, the marriage being celebrated in Wisconsin. The wife and mother died October 17, 1912, leaving four children: Alfred, Hugo, August and Vera.

Mr. Melz belongs to the German Lutheran church, in which his wife also held membership. He enjoys the full rights of citizenship, and voted the republican ticket until 1908, since which he has given his support to the democratic party. He has served one term as township trustee and is now candidate for reelection. Mr. Melz is numbered among the foremost agriculturists of his township, where his activity and enterprise in matters of citizenship as well as business have won him the respect of his fellow citizens, among whom he has many friends