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         HENRY HIMMELREICH, a leading farmer residing on section 29, Columbus City Township, is a native of Union County, Pa., where he was born Jan. 1, 1823, and is a son of George and Sarah (Stener) Himmelreich, whose birthplace was also in that State. When he was twelve years of age his parents removed to Wayne County, Ohio, where the death of the father occurred in 1869; the mother, who was a member of the Lutheran Church, having been called to her final home several years before.

Henry was reared upon a farm and received his education at the district schools. Being the eldest of the family the management of the farm devolved upon him, and he remained at home until twenty-five years of age. In 1844 he was united in marriage with Edith Sigafoos, a native of Ohio, born in . . .

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. . . Holmes County, and a daughter of Frederick Sigafoos. The young couple began their domestic life upon a rented farm, where they resided until 1853, and then migrated to Louisa county, Iowa, purchasing a farm on section 29, Columbus City Township, consisting of 120 acres. This land was in a wild, unbroken state, but Mr. Himmelreich immediately began its cultivation, and to-day has one of the finest farms of the township.

The union of this worthy couple was blessed with a family of nine children: George W., who died in childhood; Emma (deceased), wife of John McCulley, who is a resident of this county; Charity, who is a successful teacher of the county, resides with her parents; Rhodie died at the age of twenty-two; William died when eighteen years of age; Pleasant Ann, who departed this life at the age of twenty; Cora, wife of R. O. Johnston, a resident farmer of Columbus City Township, and John F., who died at the age of twenty-four while in Dakota. The mother of this family was also called to her final home, June 15, 1886, at the age of fifty-eight years. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a kind and affectionate wife and mother, and a most estimable lady.

Mr. Himmelreich has held various township offices, and in his political views is a Democrat. One of the self-made men of the county, who has gained a comfortable competency by his own enterprise and good management, he is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens, and is one of Louisa County’s most enterprising farmers.