August F. Lill
Among the industrious and enterprising agriculturists of Charter Oak township is August F. Lill, who owns and successfully cultivates one of the highly developed farms in that part of the county. He is recognized as an enterprising and progressive citizen and was born on the place which he now owns May 8, 1883.
The parents were August and Theresa (Reetz) Lill, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to America at twenty-one years of age and the mother at sixteen. They were married in this country and after living in Chicago for several years settled in Charter Oak township, Crawford county, Iowa, where Mr. Lill bought land, ultimately acquiring two hundred and eighty acres, which he developed into a valuable property. He died August 24, 1902, his faithful companion having passed away July 13, 1899.
Eight children were born to them, namely: John, of Sioux City, Iowa; Anna, now the wife of Emil Pautsch, of Crawford county; Laura, the wife of Rolly Weed, of Crawford county; Minnie, now Mrs. George Pautsch, of Luverne, Minnesota; Theresa, also of Crawford county; August, the subject of this review; and Max and Selma, both of whom died in infancy.
August F. Lill attended the district schools and worked on the home farm under his father until after the death of the latter, when he located on his portion of the homestead. He has since cultivated the farm except for four years, when he rented it to another person, but is now living on his own place, which consists of one hundred and twenty acres. He has a commodious and comfortable residence and has made many improvements, everything about the farm being in excellent order. He is a general agriculturist and is regarded as one of the best farmers in his locality.
On the 24th of February, 1910, Mr. Lill was united in marriage to Miss Josie Teut, who was born in Soldier township, January 21, 1887, a daughter pf Peter and Sophia (Boysen) Teut. The parents were both born in Germany but were married in Clinton county, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming until his retirement in 1907. He and his wife are now living at Denison. He still owns a section of well improved land which is in three different tracts in Soldier township.
There were twelve children in his family, namely: Mary, now the wife of Christ Jensen, of Crawford county; Alvena, wife of John Eggen, also of Crawford county; Herman, of this county; Annie, wife of John Else, of Ida county; Josie, now Mrs. August Lill; Otto, Eliza, Estella, Albert and Erwin, all of whom are at home; and Ella and Agnes, both of whom died in early childhood.
Mr. Lill and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and are well known and prominent socially in the community. He devotes his close attention to his business, aiming to keep abreast of the times, and he thus secured ample returns for his labor. He is now apparently on the high road to steadily increasing prosperity.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.