Wasser, L. Edward

WASSER, PERSING, KISER, BIDDLEMAN, FICKLING

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes (email)
Date: 11/30/2012 at 09:44:35

1880 History of Poweshiek County Iowa

DEEP RIVER TOWNSHIP

Page 748-9

WASSER, L. EDWARD--Section 19, P.O. Deep River. His ancestors on his father's side were from Germany, and is mother was of Puritan stock. His great-grandfather was born in Pennsylvania, which State was also the birthplace of his grandfather, who was accidentally killed on a steamboat on Schuylkill River before the birth of his father, which occurred in Pennsyvania, December, 1826. He (the father) for a while, followed butchering in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, and was subsequently proprietor of the Great Western Hotel, in Great Western, Pennsylvania, and afterward of the Wasser House in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. During the first troubles with the Mollie Maguires, he was elected Sheriff of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, no other man being willing to serve on account of the dangers of the office, and has walked the streets of Pottsville (the county seat) with revolver in hand night and day, being constantly exposed to perils during the entire term of his office. This was previous to his entering the hotel business. He emigrated directly from Lewisburg to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1866, where he farmed for six years and then moved to this county, and after renting a farm for two years, he bought and moved to the present estate. He married, in 1849, Miss Susan Persing of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, who was born near Paxsinos, July 2, 1828. She bore him the following children: Joseph S. (born October 10, 1850; married December 25, 1873 to Miss Alice Kiser), Clara L. (born February 10, 1853; married December 18, 1873 to Julius Victor Frederick Biddleman), Oris E. (born August 6, 1854), L. Edward (born June 4, 1857), Hayes W. (born June 9, 1858), Ruben S. (born November 17, 1860), Eliza J. (Born November 3, 1863; died July, 1865), Henry W. (born March 31, 1865; died September 1865), William C. (born February 18, 1867), Edith A. (born February 11, 1870), Maggie M. (born October 6, 1872) and Geo. W. (born December 18, 1875). The father died suddenly May 17, 1878, and was followed by his wife, who also died suddenly March 6, 1880. The subject of this biography was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. Having received his primary education chiefly at the high school in Tipton, Iowa, he attended the Burlington Business College, and Telegraphic Institute, where he graduated. Upon leaving college he taught penmanship with good success. During the winter of 1879 and 1880, he taught the district school of Dayton township, Iowa county, after which he returned to farming. Mr. Wasser married, in Cambridge, Illinois, September 8, 1880, Miss Alice Fickling, who was born in 1860. He is the executor of the family estate, comprising 104 acres of excellent farming land, and will probably himself be its permanent proprietor.