HARTWIG, Paul and Esma (Rosel)

HARTWIG, ROSEL, RUNGE, STEINBERG, DIETERICH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/21/2010 at 15:12:01

HARTWIG, PAUL
HAROLD AND ESMA
MINNIE (ROSEL)

The couple, Paul and Esma Hartwig, have lived all their lives in Mitchell County, Iowa. Paul Harold Hartwig was born September 20, 1908, to Christian and Minnie (Dieterich) Hartwig, in East Cedar Township. He was baptized on September 27, 1908. The family belonged to St. John’s Lutheran Church, East Cedar Township. In 1911 Paul moved with his family to Newburg Township. Section 28, and they became members of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rock Township. He attended Newburg #5 Country School and received his 8th grade diploma. Following this he attended two years of German Parochial School at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rock Township, and was confirmed there on March 23, 1922.

Esma Rosel was born December 30, 1910, the daughter of George Sr. and Anna (Runge) Rosel at their home in Rock Township. She was baptized on February 12, 1911. The family belonged to Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar. Esma remembers best the family home just east of St. Ansgar on Hwy. 218. She was confirmed on March 24, 1926, at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Esma attended public school in St. Ansgar, where she completed two years of high school.

Paul and Esma were married on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1931, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar. Their Golden Anniversary also fell on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1981, and was celebrated the Sunday before with an open house and program.

From the time of their marriage, Paul and Esma lived on the Hartwig home farm in Newburg Township, Section 28, until November, 1975, when they purchased and moved to their new home at 411 South Jefferson, St. Ansgar. Paul had lived on the same farm for 64 years. They are members of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rock Township.

The Hartwig’s were married in the years of the “Great Depression” and drought (the “Dust Bowl Days”). It lasted for about seven years in the 1930’s. Hogs were 2 cents a pound, eggs were 5 cents per dozen, cattle 5 cents per pound, and corn 10 cents a bushel. People burned ear corn in the kitchen range. In the furnace they burned mostly stove wood of which there was plenty in the grove. A huge bag of groceries could be bought for $2; much of the food was “home-grown from gardens and livestock raised and preserved. Everyone then made their own butter, breads, etc., and were “self-sufficient.” Basement floors were used as refrigerators and few had running water, bathrooms, and heated water.

Esma states, “The drought of 1988 seems bad, but in the Dust Bowl Days of 1934-36, it seemed worse, probably because of the fact we farmed with horses. We had to haul huge pails of water to the fields so Paul could wash out the horses’ nostrils to allow them to breathe. The dust storms were like a blizzard in the winter time and it piled up top soil along the fence lines and ditches.”

“Farming continued to be hard work. Corn was hand-picked and if a farmer got 50-60 bushels per acre, he thought he had ‘wonders.’ Soybeans were cut, bundled and stacked as well as some corn fodder. Oats were cut with grain binders, shocked and threshed. The ladies served five meals and lunches a day to threshing crews and food was made and baked on wood-burning ranges – no air conditioning! But all in all, it was fun. Those were the ‘good old days,’ so to speak.”

She goes on to say, “The most devastating tornado we witnessed was the day after our church’s (St. John’s) Centennial on Monday, July 12, 1971. Many farm places just a half mile north and east of the church were severely damaged. The most damaging hail storm we witnessed was June 23, 1981, when west central Mitchell County was struck, including our farm where our daughter, son-in-law and family live. Crops were completely destroyed. The hail stones were as big as eggs and many trees were damaged and had to be bulldozed.”

Paul and Esma have a daughter, Karen June, born June 1, 1941. She and her husband Frederick Steinberg are presently farming the home place in Newburg Township. The Hartwig’s have enjoyed their two grandsons, Brian and Bruce Steinberg and all of their activities. Both Paul and Esma enjoy sports, and hobbies such as, Paul with his woodworking and caning of chairs, and Esma with her quilting, gardening and beautiful roses. Esma also did much singing over the years, both solos and in groups. Both have faithfully served their community and church by helping on various committees and boards. Paul just celebrated his 80th birthday and together they are enjoying retirement.

By Mrs. Paul Hartwig

[Mitchell County History, published 1989, p. 304 & 305]

Mitchell Biographies maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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