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 November 1, 2020

Peter J. Ortner needs no introduction to the readers of this volume. The family name has figured conspicuously in connection with substantial progress in Carroll county for many years and the subject of this review is now classed with the representative agriculturists of Kniest township. He is a native son of Iowa, his birth occurring in Carroll county on the 2d of August, 1871. His parents are Joseph and Theresa (Wingert) Ortner, natives of Austria and New York respectively.

The father came to the United States in youth, locating first near Freeport, Illinois, whence he removed to Blackhawk county, Iowa, and then to Carroll county in 1871. Here he located upon a farm in Kniest township, which remained his home throughout the rest of his active life. When he arrived in this district there was but one shanty in Kniest township and much of the land was yet unbroken and unimproved. He was progressive and enterprising and became one of the prosperous farmers and large landowners of this locality, being the owner, at one time, of eleven hundred and eighty acres in Carroll county and also extensive tracts in Texas. In 1909 he withdrew from business life and took up his abode in Carroll, where he still makes his home. He gives his political support to the democratic party and has served as trustee and in other township offices. He is well known throughout Kniest township and this part of the county, occupying a prominent place in the regard of his fellow citizens. His wife also survives and their family included three sons and seven daughters, as follows: Kate, who married Martin Reinhart, of Kniest township; Peter J. of this review; John, residing upon the old homestead; Rosa, the wife of Frank Schap, of Gainesville, Texas; Mary, who married Anthony Vonnahme, also of this township; Lizzie, who passed away at the age of three years; Frank, also deceased; Theresa, who wedded John Hermsen, of this township; Frances, the wife of Joseph Chapman, of Kniest township; and Clara, yet at home.

On the home farm in Kniest township Peter J. Ortner was reared and the public schools of Mount Carmel afforded him his educational advantages. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, when he removed to his present place and began agricultural pursuits on his own account. He had been reared to farm work and had therefore gained a thorough knowledge of the best methods of cultivating the soil and caring for the crops, which well equipped him for the conduct of an independent venture. His farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, located in Kniest township, has under his careful supervision been greatly improved and developed and is one of the desirable properties of this locality. Mr. Ortner is an active, wide-awake and alert farmer and like his father manifests notable enterprise in carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He has made a specialty of raising high grade Hereford cattle, and his stock is known throughout the township for its excellent quality.

Mr. Ortner was married, in 1894, to Miss Katherine Berger, and unto them have been born ten children: John, Theresa, Lizzie, Albert, Lewis, Katherine, Mary, Clara, Carl and Frances, all of whom reside at home. The parents hold membership in Mount Carmel Catholic church and Mr. Ortner belongs to the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Association of Iowa. He has never sought nor desired public office yet he has always given unfaltering allegiance to the democratic party and its principles. He is numbered among the up-to-date and progressive men of the community and through his industry and perseverance has acquired a high standing in agricultural circles, while wherever known he is respected for his unfaltering allegiance to the principles of honorable manhood as manifested in his business and social relations and in public-spirited citizenship.

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