Johann Neumann
It required an abundance of courage and a strong faith in himself for Johann Neumann to leave home and friends in Germany when he was a young man and to establish himself among strangers in America, but he has met with success in the new world and is today one of the prosperous farmers of Stockholm township, Crawford county, Iowa.
He was born April 10, 1854, a son of Frederick and Maria Neumann, who came to America in 1883 and located in Crawford county, where they both died. There were five children in their family, four of whom are now living.
Johann Neumann was educated in his native land and remained there until twenty-eight years of age, when he emigrated to the new world. He came direct to Crawford county and worked as a farm hand for four years, at the same time becoming acquainted with the language and customs of the country. He began farming independently by renting land for one year and then purchased eighty acres on section 3, Stockholm township. As his resources permitted he bought more land until he now owns two hundred acres, which he has greatly improved. He conducts his business capably and has met with a gratifying measure of success, being one of the energetic and progressive farmers of the township.
In 1886 Mr. Neumann was united in marriage to Miss Anna Tams, who was born in Schleswig, Germany, May 1, 1853, a daughter of Detlef and Katherine Tams, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in 1879 and located in Crawford county, where her parents continued during the remainder of their lives. There were eight children in their family.
Ten children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Neumann, namely: Elsabeth, now the wife of John Neumann, of Omaha. Nebraska, who has the same name as her father but is not related; Maria, the wife of Henry Neumann, of Omaha; Minnie, now Mrs. John Hagge, of Boone county, Iowa; Anna, the wife of Louis Gronau; Augusta, who engages in dressmaking and lives at home; and Frederick, Amelia, Freda, Johann and Walter, all of whom are living at home.
Mr. Neumann started empty-handed in his pursuit of fortune, but he resolutely practiced self-denial in the years when it was necessary and was nobly assisted in his efforts by his wife, who has been to him a constant source of encouragement. Together they overcame all obstacles and they are now established amid comfort and plenty. Politically he is allied with the democratic party and religiously he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.