HENRY W. SIEVERS

View Portrait of Mr. & Mrs. Louis Sievers

The agricultural interests of Cedar county find in Henry W. Sievers a worthy representative. Throughout life he has made his home here and is today the owner of a valuable farm of four hundred and forty acres known as the Glendale Stock Farm, pleasantly located on section 3, Pioneer township. He was born upon this place January 29, 1858, a son of Louis Sievers, whose birth occurred in Hanover, Germany, in 1819. In his native land the father grew to manhood and in 1848 came to the new world on a sailing vessel, which was nine weeks in crossing the Atlantic. In midocean the vessel caught fire but the flames were finally extinguished before serious damage had been done, although the passengers were badly frightened. On reaching the shores of this continent Mr. Sievers proceeded at once to Missouri where he worked for John Walker on a farm for a year.

He then returned to his old home in Hanover, Germany, where he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Rekemeyer. In 1852 he again came to America and this time located in Jones county, Iowa, where he entered eighty acres of land and improved a farm. On selling that property he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Pioneer township, Cedar county, where our subject now resides. He broke and fenced this tract and continued to make his home thereon throughout the remainder of his life. Upon the place he erected a large, two-story residence and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and, prospering in his farming operations, he was able to add to his farm until he had two hundred and eighty acres in the home place. He also owned another farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres in Mechanicsville and was regarded as one of the most successful farmers and financiers of the neighborhood. He died here on the 16th of June, 1899, and his wife passed away in 1904.

Mr. and Mrs. Sievers were the parents of five children, our subject being the only son. Minnie is now the wife of Fred Frey, a farmer of Jones county. Mrs. Emma Shrope is now a widow and resides in Pioneer township, this county. Caroline is the wife of Ira Ketring of Linn county, Iowa. Mary Matilda is now keeping house for her brother.

Henry W. Sievers was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farm boys and early acquired an excellent knowledge of all of the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He never left the parental roof and on the death of his father took charge of the home farm and business, later purchasing the interests of the other heirs in this property. He has since bought one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the home place and a farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres near Mechanicsville and is today successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He feeds from three to four carloads of stock for the market annually and finds that branch of his business quite profitable. At the present time he rents his land but has supervision of the property and is regarded as one of the most up-to-date and progressive business men of his locality. He and his sister were reared in the Lutheran faith and in politics he is identified with the democratic party but has never sought nor cared for official honors. He is one of the most substantial citizens of Pioneer township and is a man who commands the confidence and high regard of all with whom he is brought in contact whether in business or social life.