Harter, John 1859 – 1938
HARTER, GROSS, HILLEMAN, KNOKE, SCHRUBBE, SCHIPPEL, BARTH, KRATZ
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/21/2015 at 07:44:41
JOHN HARTER.
Since 1882 John Harter has devoted practically all of his time to the development of the Pleasant Ridge Fruit Farm on section 5, Pleasant township, whereon he is specializing in the raising of fine grades of native fruits, his scientific methods, unremitting industry and his thorough knowledge of the business combining to gain for him a success which places him among the most able fruit growers. He was born in Schwindratzheim, Alsace, Germany, March 28, 1859, and is a son of George and Mary (Gross) Harter, also natives of that country, where the father engaged in farming and shoemaking for a number of years. He gave most of his time to the development of the old homestead, which has been in possession of members of his family for over three hundred years. Mr. and Mrs. George Harter became the parents of three children: George, who owns the old homestead in Germany; Mary, who also resides in the fatherland; and John, of this review.
The last named acquired his education in the public schools of Germany and remained upon the farm in his native province until 1882, assisting with its operation and completing his term of service in the German army. In the latter year he crossed the Atlantic to America and settled immediately in Pleasant township, Winneshiek county, Iowa, buying one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 5, whereon he has since resided. This he has developed along progressive and modern lines, erecting substantial buildings and installing the necessary machinery until today Pleasant Ridge Fruit Farm is one of the finest properties in this part of Iowa. For the past fifteen years Mr. Harter has given a great deal of his attention to making experiments in fruit growing and has developed a number of new and rare varieties, his efforts marking a distinct advance in methods of scientific fruit cultivation. He has perfected and recorded a number of varieties of hardy apples suited to this country and climate and besides this has the only nursery in Winneshiek county and one-sixth of an acre planted in grapes, this being the largest and best developed vineyard in this section of Iowa, The Harter's Red and Improved Briar Sweet are among the best known of his own varieties of apples and are so excellent in quality and taste that the Iowa State Horticultural Society in its report of 1912 speaks of them in terms of high praise, as it did in the report of 1910 of his other excellent apples. Mr. Harter has made a thorough and exhaustive study of the work to which he has devoted his life and is considered an expert in his special line, his work having received the commendation and approval of the state and United States pomologists who have examined his fruits. His attention is given over entirely to the development of his different varieties of fruits, to a study of conditions which improve or perfect them and to research on questions of grafting and transplanting. The general farming operations were in charge of his son George W., until the sudden death of the same on account of an accident which he met on the farm during his parents absence in Europe. He was a promising young man, devoting his entire time to his father's business, and much credit is due him for the excellent condition of the property. His death was a great blow to his parents and sisters and deep regret and sympathy were expressed on all sides, for he was popular and had many loyal friends.
In Pleasant township, in 1884, Mr. Harter was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hilleman, who was born here January 7, 1857, a daughter of William and Wilhelmina (Knoke) Hilleman, natives of Hanover, Germany, the former born October 24, 1831, and the latter January 9, 1829. Both went to Canada with their parents in their childhood and in the Dominion married in 1852. They afterward came to Pleasant township, Winneshiek county, Iowa, and here the father engaged in farming until his retirement, when he moved to Decorah, where his death occurred in March, 1904. His wife survived him only a few years, dying in April, 1909. The father was one of the first settlers in Pleasant township and hauled grain to Lansing at a time when the journey of thirty miles consumed two or three days. He and his wife had eight children: Caroline, the widow of August Schrubbe, of Decorah; Henry, who died at the age of twenty-one; Elizabeth, the wife of the subject of this review; William, a farmer in Winneshiek county; Mary, who resides in Decorah; Minnie, who married Albert Schippel, of Mankato, Minnesota; Julia, the widow of John Barth, of Decorah; and August, who has passed away.
Mr. and Mrs. Harter have four children: Wilhelmina Maria, the wife of Alvin Kratz, of Grand Rapids, North Dakota; George W., a graduate of the Valder Business College and until his death on July 29, 1913, associated with his father in the operation of the fruit farm; Louise; and Julia. Mr. and Mrs. Harter have made two extended tours of Europe. He is a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a progressive democrat in his political beliefs. He supports his convictions by intelligent and unaggressive argument and has written a number of articles on political subjects which have attracted widespread attention and approval. He has made distinct and substantial contributions to the development of a great industry in this section of Iowa, where he has resided for more than thirty years, and his upright and honorable life, which has been filled with definite and important accomplishments, has gained him widespread honor and esteem wherever he is known.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Phelps Cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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