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         J. GEORGE FATH, living on section 30, Jefferson Township, where he owns a farm of ninety-five acres, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1828, and is the second of a family of nine children born to Christian and Rosina (Kaiser) Fath, who were also natives of Germany, and who emigrated to America in 1846. Bidding good-by to their friends and native land, the family started from Havre across the Atlantic in a sailing-vessel, and after a stormy voyage of forty-nine days reached New York harbor. Christian Fath with his family settled in Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained ten years engaged in farming, and in 1856 came to Louisa County, Iowa, where he purchased a farm, making it his home until his death, which occurred in 1876, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, a most estimable lady, died in 1873, having reached her sixty-eighth year.

Our subject was eighteen years old when he came to America. He had received his education in his native land, and on reaching Buffalo engaged in farming. In 1855 he left the parental roof, and was united in marriage with Caroline Wightmann, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Nicholas and Margaret (Howder) Wightmann, who were born at Alsace, Germany. Her parents emigrated to America, locating in Jefferson Township, Louisa county, Iowa, where the death of her mother occurred. Her father then returned to Buffalo, N. Y., where his death occurred some years since.

After their marriage Mr. Fath and his wife took up their residence in Geneseo County, N. Y., where he engaged in farming on a tract of land which he had purchased. Making that his home until 1863, he then emigrated to Iowa, and purchased eighty acres of the farm on which he now resides. In 1884 the death of his excellent wife occurred, after a lingering illness, and her death was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends. Mr. Fath . . .

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. . . was again married, in Louisa County, May 20, 1885, Mary Renthinger, a native of Baden, Germany, becoming his wife. She is the daughter of Joseph and Agatha (Mayer) Renthinger, also natives of that country, where they yet reside. Mrs. Fath was the widow of Anton Birkenmyer, and by that union had two children, Joseph and Charley, who make their home with our subject.

Mr. and Mrs. Fath are members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, of Wapello, Iowa, and to them has been born one child, Mary Magdalene. They are among the highly respected people of Jefferson Township.