WILLIAM VAHLE

William Vahle, one of the prominent and respected German farmers of Flint River Township for the past thirty years, is a son of Zacharias and Anna (Forker) Vahle, and was born in Prussia, Germany, April 25, 1850. He was reared to manhood upon the parental farm, receiving his education in the district schools in the vicinity of his house. In 1868 he came to America, locating in St. Louis, where he remained till 1872, when he became a resident of Des Moines county, Iowa. In 1875 he bought one hundred acres of land in Section 8, and twenty-five acres in Section 9, Flint River township, where the bridge is now located. His deed calls for twenty-five acres, but the road commissioners put a road through this land and built a bridge thereon, without the consent of Mr. Vahle. June 23, 1873, Mr. Vahle wedded Miss Christina Dicks, daughter of John Dicks. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom eight are living; Gusta married A. Westerbeck, and died at the age of twenty-six years; Ina is the wife of Fred Meyer; Emma married Fred Weile; Louisa became the second wife of A. Westerbeck; Minnie, who is now Mrs. William Campbell; Henry died aged nine years; William died when a babe of only nine months; Nellie, Edward, and William at home. The devoted wife and mother of this large family passed away to the great beyond in April, 1898. December 7, 1899, Mr. Vahle married Mrs. Mary Schilte, Mrs. Vahle’s first husband was Henry Lee, by whom she became the mother of two children, Charles and Louisa. By her second marriage, to August Schilte, she had six children; Anna, who is now Mrs. James Riady; William; Lena, wife of Otto Jaeger; Minnie, who married Fred Jaeger; Emma and Elsie, at home. Politically, Mr. Vahle casts his vote independently, and has never aspired to any office. He carries on general farming, in all branches of which he is most successful, as he is well versed in the best methods of producing crops and raising stock. He has made all the improvements on his place built a good residence, a new barn 30 x 40 feet, and other necessary outbuildings. Mr. Vahle deserves much credit for his success in life. He had no financial backing, but by his own energy, activity, and willing hands he has accomplished much, and his example in business is worthy of emulation.