August Obermöller is another of the native sons of
Clayton county who has proved conclusively that
through the medium of agricultural and live-stock
industry is to be gained substantial and enduring
prosperity, and it is through such means that he has
won large and worthy success through his own energy,
ambition and well-ordered endeavors. He has held to
the course of integrity and honor in all of the
relations of life, is one of the highly esteemed
citizens of his native county and is especially
entitled to recognition in this history.
He was born on a pioneer
farm in Garnavillo township, this county, on the 24th
of October, 1859, and the place of his nativity was a
humble log house of the true pioneer type. He is one
of the two surviving members of a family of three
children and is a son of Peter and Augusta (Vedaman)
Obermöller, who
immigrated to America from their native district of
Germany in the year 1856. They settled that year in
Clayton county, and the little log house which the
father built on his embryonic farm was equipped with
clapboard roof, a floor of rough boards and a door
with the old-time latch string. On this farm the
parents passed the remainder of their lives,
industrious, upright and useful citizens who
commanded unqualified popular esteem.
The pioneer schools of
Clayton county provided August Obermöller with his somewhat limited
educational advantages in boyhood and youth and he
assisted his father in the work of the home farm
until he became of age. He then began his independent
operations as an agriculturist and stock-raiser on
the farm which he now owns and occupies and which has
been brought to its present fine status, through his
energy and good management. With increasing financial
resources he made additions to his landed estate, and
his well improved homestead now comprises two hundred
acres, in Section 35, Farmersburg township, and 40
acres in Garnavillo township. On the place Mr. Obermöller has erected the best type of
farm buildings, including a commodious house that is
known for its generousi hospitality and good cheer.
In addition to this valuable property Mr. Obermöller owns three hundred and twenty
acres of good land near Delrapids, South Dakota, and
this latter estate is also well improved.
He has been one of the
world's noble army of unassuming but effective
workers, has been loyal to all civic duties and
responsibilities and has not swerved from the course
of allegiance to the Republican party, the while both
he and his wife have exemplified in their daily lives
the faith they profess as earnest communicants of the
Lutheran church.
In 1886 was solemnized the
marriage of Mr. Obermöller
to Miss Katherine Greimann, who was born and reared
in this county and who is a daughter of William and
Anna (Hollbrugee) Greimann, who came from Germany in
1852 and who were honored pioneer citizens of Clayton
county at the time of their death. Of the children of
Mr. and Mrs. Obermöller
the first-born was Peter, who is deceased; Anna is
the wife of Christ Bierbaum; William continues to be
associated in the activities of the home farm;
Augusta is the wife of William Neimann; Wilhelmina
remains at the parental home; Louisa is deceased; and
Mary is the youngest member of the home circle.
source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical
Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price,
Vol. II; pg. 306-307
-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall
[August Obermoller;
Obermoller, August]
