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 October 5, 2020

Joseph Schweers, whose entire life has been devoted to that occupation which George Washington described as “the most useful as well as the most honorable” a man can follow, is one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of Carroll county. He is one of Iowa’s native-born citizens, his birth having occurred in Dubuque county on the 19th of March, 1856. His parents, Herman and Elizabeth (Kremer) Schweers, were both born in Oldenburg, Germany, where they were reared and married, and about 1846 they sought a home in the new world, locating first in Cincinnati, Ohio. Later they came to Iowa, taking up their abode in Dubuque county, where they passed their remaining years. The father was a sailor in the old country, but after arriving in the United States took up the occupation of farming. He passed away in 1889, but his wife still survives, making her home in Dubuque county, at the remarkable age of ninety-four years. In their family were several children, including three sons who are all living, as follows: Henry, a resident of Dubuque county, Iowa; Joseph, of this review; and Clem, also of Dubuque county.

Joseph Schweers is indebted to the German schools of his native county for the educational privileges employed during the period of his boyhood and youth, and his practical training was acquired in the work of the home fields. He early learned the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops, and so, when he took up farming on his own account at the age of twenty-two years, he was well equipped for the successful conduct of an independent enterprise. Upon leaving the home farm he made his abode on a tract of land in Dubuque county, which he continued to operate until about twenty-two years ago when, in 1889,he came to Carroll county, Iowa, purchasing the farm in Arcadia township, now his home. About seventeen years ago a disastrous fire swept away all of the outbuildings on the place and also a fine new barn. He has since built substantial and commodious new buildings, and the farm, which consists of two hundred and forty acres, is under a high state of cultivation. He has introduced all of the modern equipment and accessories to be found on a model farm, and the fields, under his careful direction, yield abundant harvests annually.

On the 2d of July, 1878, Mr. Schweers was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Mescher, and they now have two sons: Herman, mentioned below; and Alfonso, yet at home. They also have an adopted daughter, Cora, now the wife of Fred Mescher, of Washington township. The family are all consistent members of the Catholic church and are well known in the community in which they reside. Mr. Schweers gives his political allegiance to the democracy and for ten or twelve years served as township trustee. He was also school director for a time, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. He is an active and willing worker for the upbuilding and advancement of the county in other lines also and stands high in the regard of all who know him for the honorable and upright principles which govern his career.

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