I. N. Vollersen
The life record of I. N. Vollersen, manager of the Green Bay Lumber Yard at Ricketts, is an admirable example of success attained by one who started empty-handed and has gained a position of comfort and ease through his indomitable energy and resourcefulness.
He is a native of Germany, born at Hogel, Schleswig-Holstein, June 18, 1865, a son of Christopher and Christina (Ingwersen) Vollersen. The parents passed their entire lives in Germany, the mother dying in 1880, and the father one year later. There were eight children in their family, of whom five came to America, namely: Mary, now the widow of J. H. Sorgenfrei, of Duluth, Minnesota; I. N., of this review; C. P., of Crawford county; Ingeburg, who married Peter J. Petersen, of Chicago, Illinois; and Christina, the wife of Rev. Otto Fitzler, of Mineola, Iowa. Paul H. still lives in Germany, and Henry and Matilda are deceased.
I. N. Vollersen was educated in the public schools of Germany and when seventeen years of age started out to seek his fortune in the new world. He landed in America in March, 1882, and worked for three years in Davenport, Iowa. He then farmed on rented land for two years, and in 1887 came to Crawford county, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres in Soldier township, which he cultivated for four years. Disposing of his fann, he removed to Charter Oak and engaged in various occupations until 1898, when he was made manager of a lumberyard, which position he still holds. He has been very successful as a business man and now owns a third interest in a hardware and implement store at Battle Creek, Iowa; a third interest in two hundred and eighty acres of land in Hand county, South Dakota; and also owns a fine home and a small farm at Ricketts.
On the 20th of February, 1885, Mr. Vollersen was married to Miss Christina Tebbe, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, in December, 1864, a daughter of Herman and Anna (Graff) Tebbe, both of whom were born in Germany. The parents came to America early in the '60s and in the latter part of the Civil war Mr. Tebbe was drafted into the Union army and after his discharge followed farming, becoming the owner of two hundred and ninety-four acres of land in Scott county. He died in 1897, his wife passing away four years later. There were five children in their family: Herman, who is now living on the homestead in Scott county; Hannah, the wife of John Tebbe, of Crawford county; Emma, now Mrs. William Keuhl, of Crawford county; Clara, who married Herman Kramer, of Kansas; and Christina now Mrs. I. N. Vollersen.
Two children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vollersen: Christopher H., born January I, 1886, who married Freda Voss and is now manager of a hardware and implement store at Battle Creek, Iowa; and Anna C., born February 26, 1887, who is the wife of Louis E. Haag, manager of a lumberyard at Winner, South Dakota. The children were both given excellent educational advantages, the son being a graduate of the Charter Oak high school.
Mr. Vollersen and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and politically he gives his support to the democratic party. He is identified with the Masonic lodge, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Sons of Herman, all of Charter Oak, and has many warm personal friends in those organizations; He has been governed by a noble ambition to win an honorable name and a competency for his family and he has succeeded perhaps even beyond his early expectations. He today occupies an acknowledged position as one of the substantial citizens of Crawford county.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.