THEODORE LINDER

Theodore Linder, living a retired life in Bennett after many years devoted to farming, is one of the public-spirited men of Cedar county who is well worthy of a place among the representative citizens of the county. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, March 14, 1845, his parents being Henry and Catherine Linder, also natives of Germany. His mother died when Theodore was a young boy and the father came to the United States, settling in Davenport in 1866. Being a poor man, he worked for others at farming all his life, and died at the age of seventy-six years in Scott county, Iowa. He brought three children with him to this country, the daughters being Dora, the wife of Charles Bapke, of Moline, Illinois; and Elizabeth, the wife of Castin Lundt, of Grundy county, Iowa.

Theodore Linder attended school in Germany and acquired a fair education. He was twenty-one years old when he landed in Davenport and he worked upon a farm for a year after locating there. He learned the trade of shoemaking but soon returned to farming, renting land for nine years and meeting with very good success, as he was a worker who knew not fatigue and was an able manager. In 1887 he came to Cedar county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of improved land in Inland township. There he lived and labored, constantly improving the place until it became one of the finest in the locality. Just six years ago he retired from active farming and removed to Bennett, where he has since resided. In addition to his own homestead he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fairfield township, Cedar county, and town property in Bennett.

On January 4, 1877, Mr. Linder married Miss Wilhelmina Hein, who was born in Schleswig-Holstein, July 19, 1852, and came to the United States at the age of eleven years with her parents Carl and Dora Hein. Her parents were also natives of Germany, and both passed away at their home in Davenport. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Linder, namely: Henry, who married Amelia Rock and is the father of two children, making his home upon the old Linder farm in Fairfield township; Dora, the wife of Herman Schlutz, of Scott county, and the mother of one child; Theodore, Jr., who married Laura Rock and has charge of the old homestead in Inland township; and Hermina, the wife of Otto Peterson, of Farmington township.

Mr. and Mrs. Linder were reared in the Lutheran faith and still attend the church of that denomination, although not at present members of any. In politics Mr. Linder is a democrat and has served as school director for some time. He has also been road supervisor of the township and is one of the men who has given of his time toward the development of the best interests of the community. Generous and public-spirited, he is the friend of all who know him, being esteemed as much for his kindly disposition as for his position in the business and agricultural world. He is essentially a self-made man, his start in life being made in a shoe-shop, and he owes his present position and success to none save himself, as he has made his way to the place he occupies alone and unaided.