Doerr, William 1855 - 1932
DOERR, DRUFNER, EMIL, BOUILLON, UNTEREINER, EINCK
Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/19/2014 at 19:43:54
WILLIAM DOERR
Many of the finest farms in Winneshiek County at the present time are owned and operated by the sons of the pioneers in this part of Iowa, who in their development and further improvement of the old family homesteads are ably carrying forward the work begun by their fathers in early times. To this class belongs William Doerr who is carrying on general farming and stock-raising on a fine property of one hundred and eighty acres on section 18, Military Township, constituting the farm upon which he was born and reared.
His birth occurred on the 9th of December, 1855, his parents being William and Annie (Drufner) Doerr, natives of Germany. The father came to America when he was about eighteen years of age and settled in Pennsylvania, where he remained seven or eight years before removing to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he purchased land. His entire active life was devoted to agricultural pursuits and he gradually attained a position of prominence and importance in farming circles of Military Township where he made his home until his death on the 17th of September, 1886. As a progressive and public-spirited citizen he took an active part in local affairs and held various important official positions including that of school director. His wife survived him some time, dying in 1909. To them were born ten children: Helen, the wife of Joseph Emil of Calmar, Iowa; Elizabeth and Mary, deceased; William of this review; Annie, Caroline, Julia and Rosalie, who have passed away; Catherine, a nun in a convent at La Crosse, Wisconsin; and a daughter who died in infancy.
William Doerr was reared upon the family homestead in Military Township and from his childhood assisted with the work of its cultivation, becoming at an early age thoroughly familiar with the best methods of cultivating the fields and caring for the stock and grain. When he was twenty-two years of age he rented the property from his father and cultivated it for three years, after which he purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section 33, Military Township, and turned his attention to its development and improvement. At the end of five years he disposed of this property and bought the old homestead of one hundred and eighty acres, which he still owns. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and has been very successful, prosperity steadily attending his practical and well directed labors.
On the 13th of November, 1877, Mr. Doerr was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Untereiner, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Bouillon) Untereiner, natives of France. They came to America in 1852 and settled in Winneshiek County, Iowa, where at first the father followed the blacksmith's trade, engaging later in farming in Washington Township. Mr. and Mrs. Doerr have become the parents of nine children: William, deceased; Julia, the wife of Bernard Einck; Theodore, who resides in Winneshiek County; Catherine, the wife of Antone Einck of Charles City, Iowa; Joseph, who lives at home; Helen and John, who are also at home; Clemence, deceased; and Wilhelmina, at home.
The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and politically Mr. Doerr gives his allegiance to the Democratic Party. The cause of education finds in him a stanch supporter and an ardent champion and for twenty years he has been a member of the school board, accomplishing during that time a great deal of constructive and capable work. Fraternally he is connected with the Order of Foresters but beyond this has no affiliations of this character. He prefers rather to concentrate his attention upon the development of his farm, and his business interests are all capably conducted, bringing him a gratifying measure of prosperity.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913
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