Anton F. Holtke is the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred and thirty acres in Springfield township and the property is the indication of his life of well directed thrift and energy, for he started out empty-handed. Placing his dependence upon the substantial qualities of energy and determination, he has gradually worked his way upward and is now the owner of a splendidly improved property. He was born in the village of Wietersheim, in the state of Westforhlen, Germany, September 20, 1842, a son of Anton F. and Mary Holtke, who were also natives of the same country but are now deceased. The mother died during the childhood of her son Anton and the father passed away in 1893 at the age of seventy-eight years.
The youthful days of Anton F. Holtke were spent in his native country and at the age of twenty-three years he came to America, landing at New York on the 2d of October, 1865. He acquired a good education in the schools of Germany and afterward attended night school in Indianapolis, Indiana, to which city he made his way immediately after his arrival in the new world. The following winter he attended school in Greene county, Indiana, pursuing his studies in the day sessions and doing chores on a farm night and morning for his board. He afterward worked for wages upon the same farm for two years and eightmonths and then went to Indianapolis, where he entered the employ of a transfer company, with which he remained for two years.
The winter of 1870 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Holtke in Cedar county. He was married in the same year to Miss Sophia Wobking, a native of Germany, who came to this country about the same time Mr. Holtke crossed the Atlantic. They had been acquaintances in their native land and renewed their acquaintance in this country, their friendship being ultimately consummated in marriage. Upon their arrival in Cedar county Mr. Holtke engaged in farming on rented land but economy and industry at length brought him sufficient capital to enable him in 1878 to purchase ninety acres of the farm upon which he now resides. He had previously rented this for two years and at the time of his purchase he bent his energies with renewed effort to the further development and improvement of the property. To this he has added from time to time until he now owns two hundred and thirty acres, in the midst of which he has erected a large barn and outbuildings, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock. He has also remodeled the house, making it modern and convenient. His farm and fields are completely surrounded by wire fences which he has built and he utilize the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Holtke were born six children: Charles, William, Frederick, Anton, August and Hermann. Three of the number have not been heard from for some years, the two eldest having gone to the Klondike gold fields. The wife and mother died in1900, at the age of fifty-eight years, and in 1902 Mr. Holtke wedded Mrs. Sophia Cassier, the widow of Henry Cassier and a daughter of Henry Rixe, of Cedar county.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Holtke are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and he belongs to Wheatland Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He is loyal to the teachings of both organizations and enjoys the high regard of his brethren in both. His is a creditable record, characterized by faithfulness to duty in every relation of life, and he certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished since coming to the new world without capital as a young man of twenty-three years. Here he found the opportunities he sought and in their improvement has gained for himself a position among the substantial agriculturists of the county.
