CHRISTOPHER H. F. NIENABER

View Portrait of Mr. & Mrs. C. H. F. Nienaber

Christopher H. F. Nienaber, who passed away in Farmington township on the 25th of February, 1900, there carried on general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career, his labors being crowned with success. His birth occurred in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 10th of October, 1855, his parents being Frederick C. and Maria (Fintel) Nienaber, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father’s natal day was June 14, 1818, his birthplace being Waldenhussen, Mecklenburg, while the mother was born in Hanover on the 1st of January, 1825. They were married in Germany and emigrated to the United States in the early ‘50s, first settling in St. Louis, Missouri, and later removing to Scott county, Iowa. There Frederick C. Nienaber followed farming throughout the remainder of his life, passing away in Walcott on the 26th of January, 1900. The demise of his wife there occurred on the 25th of January, 1887. Their children were ten in number, our subject being the fifth in order of birth.

Christopher H. F. Nienaber obtained his early education in the district schools of Scott county and later pursued a course of study in the German school at Luzerne, Iowa. He remained in Scott county with his father, assisting in the work of the fields, until twenty-one years of age, when he came to Cedar county, the year of his arrival here being 1876. Purchasing a quarter section of land in Farmington township, he there carried on general farming and stock-raising throughout the remainder of his life, winning a well merited prosperity in his undertakings as an agriculturist. At the time of his death, however, he had indebtedness against his land, which his widow and sons at once set about to liquidate and through faithful and persistent effort and careful management soon had the farm clear of incumbrance and the improvements since made on the farm denote the successful outcome of their endeavors. They have enlarged the house and erected a new barn, outbuildings, etc.

On the 24th of February, 1881, near Durant, Iowa, Mr. Nienaber was joined in wedlock to Miss Maria Catherine Christine Horst, a daughter of Detlef and Anna Catherine Margaret (Sellhorn) Horst. The father was born in Hohenvestedt, Holstein, Germany, on the 30th of June, 1837, while the mother’s birth likewise occurred in Barfeldt, Holstein, her natal day being December 30, 1833. Detlef Horst crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1855, first locating in Rock Island, Illinois, where he worked as a teamster for four years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a tract of land near Moline and in addition to farming also worked as a teamster for about eight years. He then came to Durant, Cedar county, Iowa, and rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Farmington township, being successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits in the vicinity of Durant for twenty years. Subsequently he embarked in business as the proprietor of a restaurant at Wilton, Iowa, conducting the same for about twenty years or until the time of his retirement. Both he and his wife still survive and make their home in Wilton. Unto them have been born eight children, Mrs. Nienaber being the eldest. Our subject and his wife became the parents of three children, all of whom are yet living. Edward Christopher, who was born on the 17th of May, 1882, wedded Miss Esther Globes and resides in Farmington township. Albert Detlef, whose birth occurred on the 18th of June, 1884, married Miss Mabel M. Lenker and lives on a farm adjoining that of his mother. Charles Adolph, whose natal day was April 29, 1888, is still at home with his mother. Mr. Nienaber supported the democracy until the time of the free silver agitation, when he became an advocate of republican principles. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church, the teachings of which he exemplified in his daily life. His widow and children belong to the First Presbyterian church at Wilton. Mrs. Nienaber is a gentle, kindly woman, charitable in her estimate of every one, and has a host of warm friends.