ADAM F. PAUL

Adam F. Paul, a prosperous and progressive farmer and stock-raiser of Farmington township, there owns two hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land and also has another tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Center township, this county. His birth occurred in Muscatine county, Iowa, on the 1st of May, 1854, his parents being Frederick and Catherine (Metz) Paul. The father was born in Saxony, Germany, on the 22d of December, 1822, while the mother’s birth occurred in Baden, Germany, about 1832. Frederick Paul emigrated to America in 1849, first locating in Ohio, where he spent two years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Muscatine county, Iowa, and during the remainder of his life was successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits in this state. His demise occurred at the home of our subject on the 6th of June, 1909. He was twice married, his first wife passing away in Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1857, when Adam F. Paul, their only child, was but three years of age. For his second wife he chose Miss Regina Grady, by whom he had five children, namely: Clara, the deceased wife of Otto Schiele, of Cedar county; Mollie, who gave her hand in marriage to William Reinbracht, of Sunbury, Iowa; Tillie, the wife of Charles Heirsmann, of Scott county; Annie, who wedded Edward Springmeier, of Minnesota; and Mary, who is the wife of Julius Schiele and resides in Muscatine county.

Adam F. Paul obtained his education in the district schools of his native county and assisted his father in the work of the fields until he had attained the age of about twenty-three years. At that time he rented ninety acres of land in Cedar county, devoting his attention to its cultivation for three years, while subsequently he was busily engaged in the operation of a rented farm of one hundred and sixty acres for two years and then rented and cultivated a tract of eighty acres for one year. On the expiration of that period he bought his present farm of two hundred and twenty acres in Farmington township, to the further cultivation and improvement of which he has since given his time and energies. He likewise owns a quarter section of land in Center township, Cedar county, which he leases. In 1909 he built a handsome new residence—one of the finest homes in the community. He also erected barns and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and his property is now lacking in none of the improvements and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. In addition to tilling the soil he also raises some stock of good grades and thus adds materially to his income.

On the 2d of February, 1885, Mr. Paul was united in marriage to Miss Dora Reinbracht, a daughter of Philip and Louisa Reinbracht, who were natives of Germany and took up their abode among the pioneer settlers of Scott county, Iowa. The father is deceased but the mother still survives and makes her home at Buffalo, Scott county. Our subject and his wife have two children: Fred P., who was born on the 9th of November, 1886; and Philip P., whose birth occurred April 1, 1891.

In politics Mr. Paul is independent, voting for the candidate whom he believes best qualified regardless of party affiliation. He has never sought nor desired office, finding that his time has been fully occupied in the conduct of his private interests. He and his family belong to the German Lutheran church and take a deep and helpful interest in its work. He has resided in this part of the state from his birth to the present time and his life has ever been such as to command the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.