Ferdinand Pautsch
Ferdinand Pautsch, deceased, was a well known farmer of Hanover township, who was identified with Crawford county for twenty years and became recognized as one of its prosperous and progressive citizens.
He was born in Germany, May 5, 1838, received his education in his native land and was married there, continuing amidst familiar scenes until thirty-two years of age. Believing that more favorable conditions existed in the new world than he had met with in Germany, he decided to seek his fortune in America and, crossing the ocean, he went to Chicago, Illinois, where he found work in a lumberyard and also at unloading steamboats for a period of four years. In 1876, having acquired a modest capital, he came to Crawford county and purchased one hundred acres of land. now constituting part of the farm on section 23, Hanover township, owned by his widow and children.
Mr. Pautsch was a man of unusual energy and determination and as the years passed he acquired more land until he became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. The sons have added eighty acres, making a total of four hundred and forty acres now in the estate. Mr. Pautsch was an extensive stock raiser and feeder and the sons have continued along the same line with increasing success.
On May 1, 1865, in Germany, Mr. Pautsch was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Nass, who was born January 19, 1844, a daughter of William and Frederica (Schultz) Nass, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in July, 1870, making their home in Chicago, where the father worked for wages for fifteen years. In their later years they lived with their children in Iowa, the mother departing this life in September, 1896. and the father in 1900. There were five children in their family, namely: Carl, now living in Chicago; Gustave, deceased; Augusta, who is married and lives in Oakland, Illinois; Wilhelmina, who became the wife of Ferdinand Pautsch; and Bertha, deceased.
Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pautsch, four of whom died in infancy. The others are: Theresa, the wife of Louis Green; Emil, who was born November 29, 1869, and now lives in Crawford county; Robert, who was born in February, 1872, and is living in Minnesota; George, who was born January 23, 1875, and died April 22, 1911; Ida, at home; Emma, now Mrs. Otto Haebner, of Crawford county; and Charley and Bernhard, the former born August 10, 1882, and the latter August 17, 1884, who are now in charge of the old homestead which they are managing with splendid success. They also own a two-thirds interest in one hundred and fifty-five acres of land in Minnesota and are recognized as among the progressive and enterprising young men of this county.
The death of Mr. Pautsch occurred May 12, 1896, in his fifty-eighth year, and caused deep regret not only to his family but to a wide circle of friends who had learned to respect him for his many excellent qualities. He was a member of the German Lutheran church, as are his widow and children. Politically he gave his undivided support to the republican party, but he never sought public office, as his time and energy were devoted to his family and his business. He was a man of great industry and of the strictest fairness and integrity and one who was always willing to assume his share of responsibility in any undertaking and ready to perform his part in any work that had for its object the advancement of the permanent interests of the community. On March 1, 1911, Mrs. Pautsch and her children moved to a handsome residence in Denison, where they now make their home.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.