Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah September 20, 2020

Mr. & Mrs. Dohse

Farming and stock-raising constitute the chief sources of wealth in Carroll county, for the soil is in every respect adapted to various crops and is particularly excellent for pasture land, enabling one to engage in either line of activity to great advantage. Among others who have utilized the opportunities here offered in numbered Christian H. Dohse, a native of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where his birth occurred on the 18th of April, 1853. His parents, H. N. and Anna (Sievers) Dohse, were also born in the fatherland, the former in Holstein and the latter in Schleswig. The father, hearing from his son Christian of the opportunities offered in the new world, brought his wife to America in 1870, and upon his arrival in this country made his way at once to Iowa, locating first in Clinton, Clinton county. A harnessmaker and tanner by trade, he followed those occupations in Clinton until 1882, when he came to Carroll county, and here he and his wife made their home with their son until their death, the former passing away in 1894, and the latter in 1898. Both were laid to rest in West Side cemetery.

Christian H. Dohse, the only child of this worthy couple, received his education in the schools of the fatherland, and he was a youth of sixteen years when he came to the United States in 1869. For four years after his arrival in Iowa he was engaged in farming in Clinton county, after which he came to Carroll county, locating upon his present farm on section 18, Arcadia township. The land had not yet been broken when it came into his possession, but with characteristic energy and determination he set about its improvement, and today he is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of highly developed and valuable land, upon which he has erected as fine buildings as can be found in the entire country. Although he carefully cultivated the fields and ever maintains the neat and well ordered appearance of his farm, he gives the greater part of his time and attention to his live-stock interests, making a specialty of feeding blooded stock, and to this branch of his business is due the gratifying success which is today his.

On September 19, 1875, Mr. Dohse was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Lamp, and unto them have been born eight children, as follows: P. H., of West Side, Iowa; Willie T., on the home farm; LeRoy, engaged in farming across the road from his father’s place; Henrietta, the wife of A. G. Schoengahn, of Crawford county, Iowa; Alfred E., also engaged in farming; Irene, at home; and Alma and Christian, both now deceased.

The parents hold membership in the Lutheran church and are deeply interested in the work of that organization. Mr. Dohse gives his political support to the democratic party, and while a resident of Clinton county served as a member of the school board for four years. Since becoming a citizen of Carroll county he has acted on the school board of the West Side independent school for eighteen successive years and during ten years of that time was president of the board. Not only has he been a stalwart champion of the cause of education but has cast the weight of his influence on the side of all those measures which pertain also to the material and moral development of the community. The position which he has attained among the prominent and representative business men of Carroll county Is due entirely to his own well directed efforts, and the substantial success which he has won is due to his endeavor and honorable and upright dealings with his fellowmen.

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