F. W. SCHIELE
One of the honored and highly respected citizens of Farmington township, Cedar county, was F. W. Schiele, now deceased, who for many years was known as a prosperous and progressive farmer and whose departure occasioned great regret. Mr. Schiele was a native of Prussia, born in the Province of Magdeburg, February 14, 1844, and was the son of Carl and Wilhelmina (Wattenburg) Schiele, both natives of Germany. The family came to the United states in 1856 and settled in Muscatine county, this state, where the father engaged in farming and where he and his wife lived until they were called to their final rest. He was a man possessing the sturdy characteristics of the Teutonic race and found the American republic a freedom and prosperity which are generally the reward of all right-minded men of foreign birth, who seek a home in America.
The subject of our review was educated in the public schools of his native land and at fourteen years of age came with his parents to this country. This movement he has never had cause to regret. In Muscatine county, where the family located, he was married and he and his wife came to Cedar county, locating upon the farm where his widow now lives. The original location consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of entirely unimproved land in the open prairie. Mr. Schiele was a man of great energy and determination and set to work with a will which in a few years transformed the wild prairie into a fine farm, placing the land under a high state of cultivation and erecting thereon good and substantial buildings that stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. He engaged in general farming and was very successful. The family now owns five hundred and sixty acres and the home place of one hundred and sixty acres is equipped with modern buildings that are considered among the best in the county. The principal building is a residence which was completed sixteen years ago and is beautifully finished in hard wood and neatly furnished throughout. The comforts and conveniences which are to be seen here on every side are largely the result of the foresight and good judgment of Mr. Schiele, who departed this life March 11, 1904.
He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, but in this country never affiliated with any denomination, but gave from his purse liberally toward the support of the church. His political sympathies were with the democratic party, the principles of which he believed were most in accord with those of a free government. For several years he served as school director and was for many years before his death a director of the Durant Savings Bank. He brought to all the duties and responsibilities of life a conscientiousness and a devotion to the principles of truth and justice that invariably produced satisfactory results.
On March 2, 1869, in Muscatine county, Mr. Schiele was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Paul, who was born in Saxony, Germany, June 3, 1848, a daughter of August and Christina (Wagner) Paul. She came with her parents to the United States in 1856 and the family located in Montpelier township, Muscatine county, Iowa, where the mother died January 16, 1892. Some years later Mr. Paul removed to Cedar county, Iowa, and lived with his daughter until his death April 19, 1903. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schiele: Frederick W; Emilie; Arminta, who is now the wife of F. H. Kincaid, of Davenport, Iowa, and has two children, Margaret and Loretta; and Edward Albert.
Mrs. Schiele now lives at the homestead with three of her children, and here for forty-two years she has made her home. On this spot she and her husband began housekeeping and for many years she has watched with deepest interest the growth and development of this region, in the progress of which she and those associated with her have been no unimportant factors. In the upbuilding of the community Mr. and Mrs. Schiele performed an important part and their names will always be associated with everything that is encouraging and that induces to the highest good.
