Borchers, Bernhard

BORCHERS, SIEBENS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Plym. CC (email)
Date: 2/21/2005 at 17:13:38

Bernhard Borchers

Bernhard Borchers, one of the well-known and successful farmers of Preston township, Plymouth county, Iowa, was born in Will county, Illinois, on August 2, 1872, being the son of Bernhard and Anna Borchers. Bernhard and Anna Borchers were born in Oldenburg, Germany, and there received their education in the public schools, grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. For some years after their marriage they continued to reside in the land of their nativity, where Mr. Borchers was engaged as a laborer. Many of their neighbors and countrymen had come to the United States, where they were making homes for themselves and their families, and their success caused Mr. and Mrs. Borchers to leave the land of their young manhood and womanhood and sail for America. On their arrival in this country, they came at once to Will county, Illinois, and for a year after their arrival they worked at whatever they could find to do. They then rented a small tract of land and engaged in farming on a small scale, which they continued for thirteen years. In 1881 they moved to Iowa and Mr. Borchers rented eighty acres of land in Plymouth county. He later purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in the county and erected a good and substantial frame house. This farm in Preston township he made his home until the time of his death, in 1901, at the age of sixty-three years. The widow survived for fourteen years, her death occurring in October, 1915, at the age of seventy-three years. They were the parents of eleven children, all but two of whom reached the age of maturity. One died on the voyage to the United States and was buried in the ocean, and Gilbert died in Illinois. The others of the family were, Bernhard, Henry, Mary, August, Louis, Will, John, Anna and Minnie. Henry is a well-known farmer of Johnson township; Mary, now deceased, was the wife of J. Dirk, Brunsville; August, Louis, Will and John are all farming in Preston township. Anna is the wife of Charles Mammer, of Grant township, and Minnie is the wife of Michael Eilers, of Preston township.

After some years, Bernhard Borchers, Sr., added to his original purchase of one hundred and sixty acres of land and became one of the substantial and influential men of the township. He was a firm believer in thorough cultivation and soon had his farm under a high state of improvement. He took much interest in local affairs and had much to do with the progress and development of both the township and the county. He and his wife were most estimable people and were held in the highest regard by all who knew them. Bernhard Borchers, Jr., the subject of this sketch, received a part of his education in the schools of Illinois, before the family moved to this state, and after the family located in Preston township, he completed his education in the schools of this county. He grew to manhood on the home farm, where, as a lad and young man, he assisted his father with the farm work, and remained at home until the time of his marriage.

In 1899, Bernhard Borchers was united in marriage to Minnie Siebens, whose family were among the earliest settlers in this part of the county, the family having come to this section of the county in an early day and having much to do with the early life of the township and the county. After his marriage, Bernhard Borchers rented two hundred and forty acres of land of his father in section 9, Preston township, and began life for himself as a farmer. He continued to farm the place for two years, at which time the father died and the estate was settled. Bernhard Borchers paid the difference and retained the whole of the farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he had been working. The buildings on the farm at the time he came here were very poor. Today there is a beautiful two-story frame house, with large barn and many other most substantial buildings, all of which have been placed there by Mr. Borchers and his wife. It has meant a great deal of hard and persistent work to bring the place up to its present high state of perfection, but now it is one of the ideal farms and pleasant homes of the township. The farm is divided into fields, all of which are well fenced. The beautiful grove was on the farm when Mr. Borchers came here, but he has planted and cared for a fine orchard that is growing on the place. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising and has met with much success in his chosen work. He now has some ninety head of fine Hereford cattle and two hundred head of Duroc-Jersey hogs.

Bernhard and Minnie Borchers are the parents of five children, Anna, Lena, Eilert, Lewis and Willie. Mr. and Mrs. Borchers are active members of the German Lutheran church and are prominent in the social and religious life of the community, where they are held in the highest regard and esteem by all. They are a most hospitable people and take much pleasure in the entertainment of their neighbors and friends, their beautiful home often being the scene of a happy gathering. Mr. Borchers has always taken much interest in the political and civic life of the township and the county and has been one of the prominent Republicans of his community. He has served for a number of years as a member of the school board and is at present trustee of his home township.

BOOK SOURCE:
History of Plymouth County, Iowa
Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, 1917