GOETZ, ANTON A.

GOETZ, WALTER, WOLFE

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 4/1/2004 at 15:12:15

Biography reproduced from page 544 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

The business career of Anton A. Goetz, one of the prosperous agriculturists of Wesley township, has been a highly creditable one, and substantially evidences what earnest effort and intelligently applied energy can accomplish, when directed toward the achievement of a definite purpose, as he came to America when a youth of seventeen years, unfamiliar with the language and customs of the country and practically empty-handed, and through his own endeavors has attained a position that entitles him to the respect and esteem of his community.

He was born in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, France, on the 17th of July, 1861, and is a son of Lawrence and Anna Mary (Walter) Goetz, natives of the same place. They were married in Germany, which was their place of residence for many years, and there the mother passed away. She never came to America, but the father made a trip to this country about twenty years ago. He was employed in the government service, but having attained the venerable age of eighty-six years he is now living in retirement. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Goetz numbered seven: Lena, who is residing with her brother, our subject; Joseph, deceased; John, who is a farmer in Wesley township; Louis, deceased; Anton A., our subject; and Lawrence and Lawrence (2), both of whom are deceased. After the death of the mother the father married again and to him and his second wife were born four children, two of whom, Lawrence and Alexander, reside in Germany.

Anton A. Goetz was reared at home and educated in the common schools of Germany. In common with many other youths of his country it had been his desire from childhood to come to America, of which he had heard such wonderful stories, and in April, 1878, his ambition was realized. Upon his arrival in this country he went direct to Putnam county, Illinois, where he worked out by the month as a farm hand. He was diligent and thrifty, and subsequently acquired the money to enable him to begin farming for himself as a renter. He continued to reside in Illinois until 1902, when he came to Kossuth county and purchased the farm on which he is now living. It is comprised of three hundred and twenty acres of fertile land, located on section 27, Wesley township. Mr. Goetz has made all of the improvements on his place, and owns one of the most attractive and valuable properties in the community. His farm is fully equipped with all modern machinery and appliances, and is well kept, its general appearance evidencing competent and systematic supervision in its operation and the careful regard for details that invariably result in prosperity.

In 1884 Mr. Goetz completed his arrangements for a home by his marriage to Miss Theresa Catherine Wolfe, a sister of Frank Wolfe, of this county, and to them have been born nine children: Frank, who is married and lives at Wesley, the father of two sons and one daughter; Edward, who attended college for six years at Conception, Missouri, and on July 17, 1912, entered the monastery at that place to become a Benedictine monk; Alexander, who died at the age of three months; and Michael, Louis, Gertrude, Loretta, Hilda and Stella, all of whom are at home.

The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and Mr. Goetz is also a member of the Western Catholic Union. He accords his political support to the democratic party and for four years served as chairman of the board of township trustees. He is one of the highly respected citizens of his community, where his success is recognized as the well merited reward of capably directed and intelligently concentrated effort. In the discharge of his public duties as in the direction of his private affairs, he manifests the faithfulness, promptness and efficiency that invariably stamp the capable man and distinguish him in his community.