PRIEM, E. W.

PRIEM, BRANDT

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 1/30/2011 at 21:14:35

No history of Mitchell county would be complete without extended reference to the Priem family, for through almost a half century they have been closely identified with the agricultural development of this part of the state.

E. W. Priem, whose name introduces this record, was born on the 12th of May, 1880, on the old homestead of his father, William Priem, who is mentioned at length on another page of this work and who was long numbered among the progressive agriculturists of the community but is now living retired in St. Ansgar.

E. W. Priem spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm with the usual experiences of the farmbred boy who divides his time between the work of the fields, the duties of the schoolroom and the pleasures of the play­ground. Under the guidance of his father he was thoroughly trained in pro­gressive methods of farming and in 1911 he took charge of the old homestead, which he has since operated very successfully. He has added considerable land to the home place, extending the boundaries of the farm from time to time until it now comprises four hundred and ten acres. Before taking over the work on the farm he had supplemented his early education by study in the St. Ansgar Seminary and by a year's study at the State University of Ames, Iowa. He was thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties and has made a success of what he has undertaken. In addition to his farming interests he is a stockholder in the lumber and grain company of St. Ansgar and also in the creamery company.

On the 25th of August, 1912. Mr. Priem was united in marriage to Miss Ada Brandt, of St. Ansgar, and they have an interesting little daughter, Flora. Mr. Priem has led a most active and useful life and has never stopped short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose. His fellow townsmen quickly recognized his ability and for twelve years he has had the public affairs of his home township close in hand, having held the office of township clerk since that time; and they also called upon him to serve as secretary of the lumber and grain company of St. Ansgar for about eight years, and he was also president of the Cooperative Creamery Company for twelve years. He has continuously held public office since attaining his majority and is now a director of the Con­solidated school of Carpenter, Iowa, and formerly was treasurer of the local school district. He has ever been active in politics as a stalwart supporter of the republican party and has many times represented his township as a delegate to the county convention. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.

He is a most active, energetic and enterprising man, working steadily and persistently for any interest or cause which he espouses, at the same time care­fully directing his personal business affairs. He has a wide acquaintance through­out his native county and everywhere he is spoken of in terms of warm regard by reason of the success which he has achieved, but more than all by reason of the straightforward business policies and principles which he has followed.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1918, page 381.