WILLIAM KORTHAUS

View Portrait of Mr. & Mrs. William Korthais

Nature seems to have intended that man shall enjoy a period of rest in the evening of life. In early manhood, alert, enterprising and ambitious, he enters upon his life work, and as the years pass his early progressiveness and enthusiasm are tempered by a safe conservatism that makes his efforts effective. Thus with advancing years comes success, and, if his time has been well employed, he will have in the evening of life a substantial competence, which will relieve him from the necessity for further labor. Such has been the record of William Korthaus, who is now enjoying well earned rest in Bennett, Iowa. He was for many years identified with agricultural pursuits but some years ago retired and now spends his leisure in the enjoyment of those things which are a matter of comfort and interest to him.

Like many of Iowa’s stalwart citizens who had their birth or trace their ancestry to the fatherland, William Korthaus first opened his eyes to the light of day in Germany, his birth occurring on the 28th of May, 1826. He was reared and educated in his native country and in 1848 came to the United States, so that for sixty-two years he has been identified with the interests of America. Upon his arrival he made his way to Sangamon county, Illinois, where for two years he was employed as a farm hand, and in 1850 went to Scott county, Iowa, where for five years he was similarly engaged. At the expiration of that period, feeling that the money which he had been able to save from his earnings justified such a step, he purchased eighty acres of land, to which he later added two more tracts of eighty acres, becoming the owner of two hundred and forty acres in BlueGrass township, Scott county. This remained his home for a number of years, and ere his removal from Scott county he invested in two hundred and forty acres in Cleona township, making his holdings in that county four hundred and eighty acres.

In 1899 he came to Cedar county and purchased a farm of two hundred and fifty-two and a half acres a quarter of a mile west of Bennett, so that he is now the possessor seven hundred and thirty-two and a half acres of improved and valuable farming land in Scott and Cedar counties. During the period of his active connection with agricultural interests in Iowa, which extended over almost a half century, he gave his attention to general farming and stock-raising, and that his efforts were crowned with success is indicated by his extensive and valuable landed possessions, which stand today as the monument of his life of industry, energy and thrift. Indeed, his prosperity was such that in 1894 he was able to put aside the actual work of the farm and on the 1st of September, 1900, took up his residence in Bennett, where he has since lived retired in the enjoyment of a goodly competence.

In 1857, in Scott county, Mr. Korthaus was united in marriage to Miss Freline Otto, a daughter of John and Sophia Otto, who were pioneer settlers of Scott county. They traveled life’s journey happily together until 1905 when, on the 19th of May, the wife was called to her final rest. By her marriage she had become the mother of four sons and three daughters, all of whom survive with the exception of one child. They are as follows: Amelia; Albert; Rudolph, who lives upon and operates the old homestead farm of two hundred and forty acres in Blue Grass township, Scott county; Adolph, deceased; Clara, residing with her father in Bennett; Theresa; and Theodore, who operates a farm of one hundred and fifty-two and a half acres in Inland township, Cedar county.

Upon his arrival in the United States Mr. Korthaus made a careful study of political conditions and a comparison of the platforms of the various parties resulted in his adoption of republican principles, and since that time he has been a stalwart supporter of that organization. He has never, however, sought nor desired public office, preferring to concentrate his time and attention upon his private business affairs. He attends the services of the Methodist Episcopal church and his life has ever measured up to a high standard of manhood, being governed at all time by high ideals and upright principles. Loyal in citizenship and honorable in his dealings with his fellowmen, he can, now in the evening of life, look back upon a well spent past without regret and into the future with no sense of fear.