AUGUST DRESSELHAUS

August Dresselhaus, who passed away on the 3d of April, 1903, was long numbered among the substantial and representative agriculturists of Cedar county, owning and operating two hundred and sixty-four acres of rich and productive land in Inland township. His birth occurred in Germany on the 29th of June, 1841, and there he spent the first twenty-nine years of his life, carrying on general agricultural pursuits and also serving as a soldier in the German army for six years.

In 1870 Mr. Dresselhaus crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating first in Chicago, Illinois, where he spent three months. On the expiration of that period he came to Cedar county, Iowa, and here worked as a farm hand for one year. He then rented a tract of eighty acres in Inland township and at the end of two years had accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to purchase the property. Subsequently he bought forty acres more, afterward added to his holdings by the purchase of eighty acres and still later bought another tact of sixty-four acres, so that at the time of his demise he had accumulated two hundred and sixty-four acres of valuable land in Inland township. A man of indefatigable energy, untiring industry and excellent business ability, his labors as an agriculturist were attended with a gratifying measure of success. He likewise assisted in organizing the Bennett Savings Bank, acted as its vice president for four years and was a director of the institution until the time of his death.

On the 27th of October, 1871, in Wheatland, Iowa, Mr. Dresselhaus was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmine Schlueter, a daughter of Fred and Wilhelmine (Dunkelmeier) Schlueter, who were married in Germany. Fred Schlueter, who followed farming in the fatherland, came to Cedar county, Iowa in 1884 and here passed away in 1895. His wife was called to her final rest in 1908. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dresselhaus were born nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are as follows: Herman, whose natal day was March 28, 1872; Otto, whose birth occurred May 10, 1873; Ernst, who was born January 7, 1875; Emma, June 24, 1877; Fred, February 18, 1884; Carl, August 7, 1886; and August, who first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 13th of August, 1896.

Mr. Dresselhaus was a democrat in politics and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to several positions of public trust. He served as school director for a number of years and also held the offices of township trustee and road supervisor. In religious faith he was a Lutheran. He never regretted his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their wise utilization won prosperity. His widow still survives and now resides in Bennett with her youngest son, August, who is a public school student.