CHRISTIAN F. SOEHREN, JR.

Christian F. Soehren, Jr., an enterprising and progressive young agriculturist of Inland township, is numbered among the worthy native sons of Cedar county, his natal day being March 25, 1881. His birth occurred on the home farm in Farmington township, a half mile west of Sunbury. His father, Christian F. Soehren, Sr., was born in Germany on the 4th of December, 1843, and obtained his education in the schools of that country. When fourteen years of age he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world, the family home being established in Scott county, Iowa. He remained under the parental roof, assisting his father in the work of the fields, until thirty-one years of age, when in 1874 he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, renting land in Scott county.

At the end of a year Mr. Soehren came to Cedar county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Farmington township, while subsequently he bought another tract of similar size in Inland township, so that his holdings in this county embraced three hundred and twenty acres. He leased his property in Inland township and operated the farm in Farmington township, there carrying on agricultural pursuits continuously and successfully until called to his final rest on the 18th of May, 1901. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Dora Krebs and was a native of Germany, came direct to this county after landing on American shores. They became the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, as follows: John H., who manages the home farm for his mother; Anna, who gave her hand in marriage to William Duge, of Muscatine county; Minnie, the wife of Peter Glaser, Jr., of Minnesota; Christian, of this review; and Margaret, who is at home with her mother.

Christian F. Soehren, Jr. attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education and assisted in the work of the home farm until 1903. In that year he and his brother John began operating the place for their mother on shares, being thus engaged for six years. On the expiration of that period our subject took up his abode on his mother’s farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Inland township, where he has resided continuously since. He cultivates the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and the rich and productive fields annually yield large harvest.

As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Soehren chose Miss Emma Weih, a daughter of Paul and Katherine (Bartscher) Weih, of Bennett, Iowa, and they were married February 24, 1909. Mr. Soehren is a stalwart democrat in politics but has not sought office as a reward for his party fealty. Fraternally he is identified with the Knight of Pythias, while his wife belongs to the Royal Neighbors at Bennett. The young couple likewise attend the services of the Lutheran church and are widely recognized as people of genuine personal worth.