Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

J. W. Alpers, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Coon township, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, September 8, 1859.  His father, Jacob Alpers, whose birth occurred in Germany, January 24, 1820, emigrated the United States when twenty-five years of age and took up his abode in New York.  There he was first employed as clerk in a store and later enlisted in the United States army, being engaged in fighting the Indians during his six years' term of service.  Subsequently he was employed in a cigar factory for eighteen years and on the expiration of that period purchased a farm in Missouri, on which he made his home for twenty-three years.  His wife bore the maiden name of Hannah Cralaman and the record of their children is as follows:  Mary, who is the wife of Henry Hoemann; Minnie and Lizzie, both of whom are deceased; J. W.. of this review; August, a resident of Missouri; Annie, the wife of Fred Brandt; and Henry, who lives on the old homestead.

J. W. Alpers attended the schools of St. Louis until seventeen years of age and then turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits.  Removing to Iowa, he purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Coon township, Buena Vista county.  The property is lacking in none of the improvements and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century and its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the supervision of a practical and progressive owner.  Mr. Alpers has planted a number of fruit trees and in his farming operations is meeting with the success which is ever the reward of earnest and unremitting energy when guided by sound judgment.  The lady who now hears the name of Mrs. Alpers was in her maidenhood Miss Augustine Ehlers and by her marriage has become the mother of the following children:  Willie; Ernest; George; Mary; Freda and Fred, twins; Minnie; Anna; and Walter, and all are at home excepting George, who is now attending college at Seward, Nebraska.

Mr. Alpers gives his political allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church.  He is widely known as a man of unfaltering integrity and worth and well deserves representation among the progressive and public spirited citizens of the county.