MICHAEL ZERBE

View Portrait of Michael Zerbe

In 1851 Michael Zerbe arrived in Cedar county. The district presented a far different appearance at that time from what it does today. The land was then largely wild and unimproved and comparatively few settlements had been made in this region to show that the work of civilization had been begun. There were wild animals and considerable wild game but the rich resources of the country attracted enterprising men who, taking advantage of the opportunities here offered, have won prosperity and at the same time have been the upbuilders of the county. To this number belongs Michael Zerbe, who is now living retired at the age of eighty-two years. He was, however, for a long period closely associated with industrial and agricultural interests and won success by unfaltering industry and perseverance.

A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Schuylkill county, November 8, 1929. His father, John Zerbe, was also a native of the same county and there spent his youthful days. He married Magdalene Gebert, who was likewise born in Pennsylvania, and in the Keystone state they reared their family, after which they removed to Miami county, Indiana. John Zerbe followed farming both in Pennsylvania and in Indiana, owning two farms in the latter state and there spending his remaining days.

Michael Zerbe was reared to manhood in the county of his nativity. His school privileges were limited so that he is almost wholly self-educated, but his training at farmlabor was not meager, as from an early age he worked in the fields, assisting in their cultivation from the time of the early spring planting until the harvests were gathered in the late autumn. He continued with his father until nineteen years of age and then learned the gunsmith’s trade at Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, where he worked for two years as an apprentice and one year as a journeyman and afterward with his two brothers, Samuel and Jonathan Zerbe, came west to Cedar county, Iowa. Later John Zerbe also came, bought land and engaged in farming here for a number of years but subsequently sold and removed to Linn county, where his death occurred. Jonathan Zerbe after living for some time in Cedar county went to Muscatine county, where he, too, passed away. On reaching Iowa the three brothers, Michael, Samuel, and Jonathan Zerbe, first purchased eighty acres of land and afterward entered an adjoining tract of forty acres and opened up a farm. They gave their entire attention to the improvement of the place for some time and later Michael Zerbe purchased the interest of his brother Samuel and became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres, constituting a good property, which he cultivated for several years. At length he sold out and removed to Fremont township with his brother Samuel, who had there purchased a small place, upon which he spent his remaining days, passing away in 1892. Samuel Zerbe was married In Pennsylvania to Miss Sarah Wolf and brought his bride to Iowa. Her sister, Mrs. Catherine Koppenhaver, was married in Pennsylvania and after her husband’s death removed to Iowa, joining her sister, Mrs. Zerbe, in Cedar county. She still resides here with her children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Zerbe there were born eight children, of whom four are living, namely: Amelia, the wife of Charles Echternacht, a farmer of Iowa; John George, who follows farming; Lucy, the wife of Dr. Russell of Mechanicsville; and Samuel A. Zerbe of Dakota.

After locating in Cedar county Michael Zerbe opened a shop and worked at his trade for anumber of years, making rifles and doing considerable repair work. His attention, however, has mostly been given to general agricultural pursuits, and he has become well known as one of the prosperous farmers and representative citizens of the community, his energy and industry bringing him substantial financial returns. For a considerable period he was associated with his brother Samuel in business and on leaving the farm in Fremont township he removed to Mechanicsville with his brother’s widow and her family and in that city now resides. He has been a lifelong supporter of the democracy, casting his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852, while in 1856 he voted for James Buchanan. He has since supported every presidential nominee of the party and has never faltered in his allegiance to democratic principles. The Zerbe family are numbered among the pioneer settlers of Cedar county, the brothers taking an active part in the work of the development and progress here. Michael Zerbe is today the only survivor and has now reached the age of eighty-two years. He has lived a useful life, has been closely identified with the growth of the county for fifty-nine years, and at all times has commanded the respect and confidence of his fellowmen by reason of his sterling worth.