Fred J. Lahndorf, Sr.
Fred J. Lahndorf, Sr., a prosperous farmer of Hayes township, is numbered among the men of foreign birth to whom the opportunities of the new world have opened avenues of success.
He is one of Germany's contributions to the citizenship of Iowa, his birth occurring in Holstein on the 5th of August, 1854. His parents, Frederick J. and Catherine (Brehmer) Lahndorf, were also natives of the fatherland and came to the United States in 1866, locating in Davenport, Iowa. After four years spent in that city, they farmed for four years in Scott county, Iowa, and in 1874 came to Crawford county, establishing their home in Hayes township. Under the careful supervision of the father the place became a highly improved and valuable property, and there he and his wife spent their remaining days. He reached the seventy-second milestone on life's journey before passing away, while his wife was seventy-eight years of age at the time of her demise.
Their family of three children consisted of the following: John, now deceased; Fred J., of this review; and Amelia, the wife of Charles Hanneman, residing near Dunlap, Iowa.
Fred J. Lahndorf was a lad of eleven years when brought to the United States by his parents, and his education, commenced in the schools of the fatherland, was completed in Davenport. After arriving in Haynes township he continued to give his father the benefit of his assistance until the latter's death, when he assumed control of the homestead, which he has since continued to operate. He is now the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of highly cultivated land, upon which are to be found all of the conveniences and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. He carries on general agricultural pursuits and the success which is attending his efforts clearly indicates the practical and progressive methods which he employs and the close application which he gives to his business affairs.
Mr. Lahndorf was united in marriage, on the 13th of September, 1882, to Miss Cecelia Jetter, who was born in Davenport, Iowa, of German parentage. As the years have passed their home has been blessed with nine children, as follows: Fred J., Jr.; Emma, who married Ora Pipper, of Manilla, Iowa; Edward; Helen K., who married R. C. Bradshaw, but is now deceased; Henry J., Minnie, Clara and Ferdinand, all yet at home; and William, who passed away in infancy.
Mr. Lahndorf's religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, while fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America at West Side. In politics he supported the democracy for a few years but is now a stalwart republican, supporting the men and measures of that party. For himself, however, he has never sought office, although he has served efficiently as school director, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. He and his wife occupy a high place in the social circles of the community in which they reside because of their many excellent traits of character, and their home is the seat of a warm-hearted and generous hospitality which is freely extended to their many friends.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.