Benjamin F. Barthell

BARTHELL, PAGE, FREVERT, BECKLEY

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/19/2010 at 04:34:22

BENJAMIN F. BARTHELL

Benjamin F. Barthell, who follows general farming on section 9, Forest township, Winnebago county, was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, May 2, 1880, and is a son of John M. and Martha M. (Page) Barthell, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Quebec, Canada. The father came to the United States in his boyhood days and located in New York, where he remained for three years. In the fall of 1851 he removed westward to Iowa and took up his abode in Winneshiek county. He continued his residence in this state until called to his final rest in 1903, and his widow is still living at the age of seventy-eight years, at Waukon, Iowa.

Benjamin F. Barthell, was one of a family of twelve children, eight of whom are now living. Spending his youthful days in his native county, he there pursued his education in the public schools, eventually becoming a high school pupil. Through vacation periods he assisted in the work of the home farm or aided his father in whatever line of work demanded his attention. On attaining his majority ne turned his attention to the hardware business at Waukon, Iowa, where he conducted a store for three years and then sold out. In 1902 he purchased the farm on which he now resides on section 9, Forest township, Winnebago county, comprising three hundred acres of rich and valuable land which he has brought to a high state of cultivation, adding many modern improvements and equipping the farm according to the requirements of a model farm property of the twentieth century. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and he has a fine herd of Angus cattle upon his place. He believes in keeping high grade stock, having demonstrated the value of this course, and his live stock interests constitute an important and profitable feature of his business. He is also a stockholder of the Farmers Elevator.

On the 6th of October, 1914, Mr. Barthell was married to Miss Caroline Frevert, a native of Rice county, Minnesota, and a daughter of Fred and Catharyn (Beckley) Frevert, who were born respectively in Germany and in Indiana and who removed to Sac county, Iowa, about 1872. The father was a soldier in the Civil war and is deceased but the mother is living and resides in Charles City, Iowa. In his political views Mr. Barthell is a republican and in fraternal circles is well known, holding membership with the Masons, having taken all of the degrees up to and including the thirty-second. He is likewise connected with the Knights of Pythias. He has made for himself a most creditable position as one of the leading farmers of his township and his ability in business is widely recognized. He has ever displayed unfaltering enterprise and sound judgment and has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 270-271.