William F. Stifel

DECKER, EICHNER, FRANKS, KING, LYONS, SCOTT, STIFEL

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/14/2005 at 22:14:08

William F. Stifel, a representative and substantial agriculturist of Madison county, owns and operates an excellent farm of two hundred and six acres on section 28, Walnut Township. His birth occurred in St. Louis, Missouri on the 18th of August, 1854, his parents being John Jacob and Phoebe (King) Stifel, both of whom were natives of Germany. In that country the father worked as a laborer and farmer. After emigrating to the United States he entered the service of the Anheuser-Buseh Brewing Company, of St. Louis, and became financially interested in the concern. In 1854 he made his way to Burlington, Iowa, and purchased a farm in the Mississippi valley, on which he spent the remainder of his life, surviving his wife for a few years

William F. Stifel attended district school for only a short time in his youth for as soon as old enough he was obliged to go to work, spending the winters in the timber chopping wood which he hauled to Burlington. In making these trips he froze his feet a number of times on account of having no overshoes. When twenty-two years of age he removed to Clarke county, Iowa, and began working on a farm for his brother-in-law. Subsequently he bought a tract of forty acres in that county and continued its cultivation until 1893, when he disposed of the property and came to Madison county, purchasing the farm of one hundred and sixty acres on which he has resided to the present time. He has extended its boundaries by an additional purchase of forty-six acres, and it therefore comprises two hundred and six acres of rich and productive land on section 28, Walnut township. Mr. Stifel devotes his attention to farming of a general nature and also raises and feeds stock which he sells to the shippers Success has attended his undertakings in gratifying degree and he is widely recognized as one of the progressive and prosperous agriculturists of Walnut township

Mr. Stifel has been married twice. In 1883 he wedded Miss Emaretta Josephine Lyons, a daughter of Anderson and Sarah (Franks) Lyons, and a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Clarke county, Iowa, where her father followed farming. She passed away on the farm in Clarke county, in 1890, leaving four children, as follows: Charles Frederick, an agriculturist of Clarke county, this state; Louis Wesley, who lives with his father, works on the home farm. and at times hires out as a farm hand by the month; Albert William, a farmer of Walnut township, this county, who wedded Miss Ada Scott, of Barney, Iowa, and has two children, Russell and Frances; and Pearl Franklin, an agriculturist of Minnesota, who married Miss Bertha Decker, of Walnut township and has three children, Harold, Everett and Vern. On the 4th of December, 1890, Mr. Stifel was again married, his second union being with Miss Sevina Eichner, a native of Germany and a daughter of Conrad and Barbara (Guilbauer) Eichner, who were also born in that country. They emigrated to the United States in 1881 and first located in Des Moines, where for a short time the father worked by the clay, after which he turned his attention to farming, settling on rented land nine miles northwest of Des Moines. In 1893 he removed to Madison county and purchased one hundred acres of land, upon which he remained until 1902, when he took up his residence in Clarke county, where he bought a little over two hundred acres. Seven years later he disposed of that property and removed to Lee township, Madison county, where he became the owner of two hundred and eight-tenths acres. There his wife passed away in September, 1913, and there he is still residing. To William F. and Sevina (Eichner) Stifel have been born four children, namely: William Frederick, Earl Edward, George Wilbur and Anna Marie, all of whom are students in district school No. 8 of Walnut township.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Stifel has supported the men and measures of the democracy, and for three years he has served as school director in district No. 8 of Walnut township. He contributes to the support of the Lutheran church, although he is not a member, but his wife belongs to the church of that denomination in Jefferson township. Not only has he brought about his individual prosperity but he has also been a serviceable factor in the agricultural growth of his locality, in the upbuilding of which he has participated to a laudable extent. He is therefore highly respected and esteemed and receives in full measure the confidence and goodwill of all who know him.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.