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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Frederick J. Bauer

Frederick J. Bauer, who carries on general farming on section 20-, Dawson township, has spent his entire life in Iowa and for many years has lived in Greene county. He was born in Jones county on the 27th of April, 1857, and is the youngest of a family of three children, whose parents were Ambrose and Margaret (Kilmartin) Bauer, the latter a native of Ireland. The father, who was born in Germany, June 24, 1821, is yet living at the venerable age of eighty-five years, his home being still in Jones county. The mother, however, died when her son Frederick was but six years of age. The other children of that union were E. D., now living in Paton; and Mrs. Catherine Curtis, whose home is in Corning, Iowa. Having lost his first wife, the father was again married, his second union being with Manda J. Hutchinson, who died in 1904. They had a family of eight children, of whom two died in infancy, while six are yet living, namely: Joseph and John C., both residents of Jones county; Mrs. Rosa Zerba, of Omaha, Nebraska; Carrie, who is married and lives in Jones county; Stella, who is still under the parental roof; and Tressie, the wife of Fred Bear, of Jones county.

Ambrose Bauer was a young man of twenty one years when he bade adieu to the fatherland and crossed the briny deep to the new world, locating first in New Jersey, where he followed the trade of a stone-mason, which he had learned in his native land. In 1856 he came to Mount Vernon, Iowa, where he continued working at his trade and also took up farming, which he followed with success until about twelve years ago. He performed his duties day after day without slighting them in the least and his perseverance and energy brought him a goodly measure of success. He is now living in Martella, Iowa, having attained an advanced age, while in the years of an active business career he won the success that now enables him to live retired.

Frederick J. Bauer spent his boyhood days upon the home farm in Jones county, Iowa, and at the usual age began his education as a public school pupil. During the summer months he worked in the fields and his training at.farm labor was not meager, for almost as soon as old enough to handle the plow he became an active factor in the work of cultivating his father’s land. When twenty-one years of age he started out in life for himself and worked for one season on the farm, while the succeeding year he came to Greene county. Here he was employed at farm labor for a year, when, wishing that his efforts might more directly benefit himself he began farming on his own account on rented land. Carefully saving his earnings he was enabled in 1885 to invest in property and bought the tract of one hundred and twenty acres upon which his residence now stands. At that time there was a small dwelling upon the place, while thirty acres had been broken. The farm was destitute of all improvements, but with characteristic energy he began its further development and the years have noted a remarkable change in his financial condition and possibilities. He is today the owner of six hundred and forty acres of fine land, which is splendidly improved, and his farm is one of the valuable properties of the county. He has recently completed a fine residence, which is commodious and attractive in its style of architecture. It is surrounded by a well kept lawn and not far distant are good barns and sheds. These in turn are surrounded by well tilled fields and he annually harvests good crops because of the practical and systematic methods which he follows in carrying on his farm work. He is new extensively engaged in raising stock of high grades. He handles Poland China hogs and polled Angus cattle and makes extensive shipments.

On the 24th of February, 1881, Mr. Bauer was joined in wedlock to Miss Esther Rankin, a native of Cedar county, Iowa, born March 28, 1858, and a daughter of John and Esther (McBurney) Rankin. Her parents were early settlers and prominent residents of Greene county, being closely connected with the pioneer development of this section of the state, and wherever they were known they were held in highest regard, their labors contributing to the substantial improvement and upbuilding of this locality. In their family were nine children and the record is remarkable in that the circle is yet unbroken by the hand of death. These are: Ebenezer, now living in Harrison county, Iowa; James, whose home is in Hardin county, this state; Mrs. Isabelle Ayers, of Grand Junction; Mrs. Marjorie Tipton, of Emmet county, Iowa; William, of Shelby county, Iowa; George, residing in Nebraska; Mrs. Lettie Sullivan, living in Boone county, Iowa; Mrs. Sarah Smith, of Monroe, Iowa; and Mrs. Bauer. The home of our subject and his wife has been blessed with nine children, Edith, William R., Edward O., Frederick O., Clzirence R., Nora, Clara, Ella and Beulah. All are at home with the exception of the eldest daughter, Edith, who is the wife of J. H. Stribling and resides in Paton, Iowa.

Through the careful conduct of his business interests and the success which has attended his efforts, Mr. Bauer has been enabled to provide a comfortable home for his family and to secure for them not only the necessities, but also some of the luxuries of life. He and his wife are members of the Friends church and are people of kindly spirit, who have won a large circle of friends in the community, while their home is justly celebrated for its gracious hospitality. Mr. Bauer politically is a democrat and is now serving as township trustee, while socially he is connected with the Modern Woodman camp at Paton.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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