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Meester, Harm

MEESTER, ROSENBOOM, KRUSE, MEYER, PRUSS

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/24/2006 at 07:07:20

MEESTER, HARM

Harm Meester is a wealthy and highly respected farmer, whose home is on section 9, Midland township, and whose extensive estate, comprising as it does over six hundred acres, puts him among the number of those who have not only made their living but have grown rich out of Lyon county land.

Harm Meester was born in East Friesland, Germany, January 2, 1844, and was the third of six children born to John and Susie (Rosenboom) Meester.

In 1863 he came to America with his mother and three other children. The two older brothers had preceded them by a year, and a home was made in Ogle county, IL, where he at first was a farm helper, and then operated a rested farm for himself.

In 1869 Harm Meester came to Grundy county, IA, where he bought eighty acres of land, the first real estate he had ever owned. Here he farmed some twenty-seven years, his labors being attended with much success.

In 1892, feeling that he was working on land too high priced for profitable returns and desiring cheaper lands, Mr. Meester came to Lyon County, where with the money he had earned in the twenty-seven years of hard work on the Grundy county place, he bought a four hundred-acre tract of land; and was so impressed with the country that he sold out his Grundy county place, and moved his family to the Lyon county farm. Since that time he has made additional real estate investments and is greatly pleased with the changes he has made. His land is well improved, and the buildings he has erected since his coming would do credit to any community. Much of his land is rented, and only two hundred and forty acres is reserved for his own farming.

Mr. Meester is a Republican, and belongs to the Presbyterian church. At the present time he is a member of the town board, on which he has served for two years.

In 1869 occurred his marriage to Miss Gracie Kruse, who died in 1891, leaving five children: Johannes, a resident of Grundy county; Ike, a resident of Minnesota; John, now living in Lyon county; Mattie, who is Mrs. Dick Meyer, a resident of Grundy county and Daniel, who is at home. Mr. Meester contracted a second marriage in 1894, when Mrs. Henry Pruss became his wife. She had two children by a former marriage, Eilert and Mary Pruss. Her maiden name was Gepke Meyer.

When Harm Meester arrived in this country he was seventy-five dollars in debt, and today he stands as an example of the success a foreign-born citizen may achieve in this land if he will be work with all his might and wait for time to show results.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson


 

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